By IANS,
Ranchi: Two people were injured as police opened fire to disperse a mob opposing an anti-encroachment drive in Jharkhand’s Bokaro township Saturday, police said.
Police opened fire when a mob set on fire two vehicles, including one belonging to police, in sector nine of the Bokaro steel township, around 130 km from here.
The Bokaro district administration earlier launched an anti-encroachment drive on the direction of the Jharkhand High Court.
Demanding the rehabilitation of those likely to be displaced in the drive, thousands of irate vendors, roadside dwellers and shopkeepers started an agitation Friday.
On Saturday, the agitation turned violent when the protesters set on fire two vehicles.
The court asked the district administration to remove encroachment and file a report March 25.
Official sources said that about 40 slums and 650 shops have come up on government land in Bokaro town, famous for its public sector steel plant set up in 1965 with the Soviet help. There are 335 buildings that have been illegally constructed.