20 hurt as villagers protest wall at IGI

At least 20 persons, including policemen, were injured following clashes between residents of Shahbad Mohammadpur village and policemen near IGI Airport late on Monday night. Police resorted to lathi charge and tear gas shelling to disperse protesters who said that Delhi International Airport Limited was trying to build a wall, which will block the entry and exit passage for the villagers.

The villagers damaged at least three vehicles engaged in construction work. The clashes sparked off on Monday night when villagers noticed that the DIAL contractor was digging up road just in front of a railway crossing, a crucial link for the villagers with Dwarka and rest of Delhi.

“The DIAL officials had already closed other important roads. The only passage left for us was this one which also they were trying to close,” Sube Singh Solanki, a resident said. He also quoted a court order, directing DIAL to keep entry/exit point open for the villagers.

Senior DIAL officials said there had been some miscommunication. “The contractor had mistakenly cut the road near railway crossing giving the impression to the villagers that DIAL was trying to build a wall there,” said executive director, DIAL, HJ Dora.

At least three people have been arrested after police registered a case of rioting, damage to public property etc, said a police officer.

DCP airport, Naresh Kumar, was not available for comments.

- ExpressIndia

Labels: