Patna: A routine anti-encroachment drive near Medanta Hospital in Patna turned violent when residents of a nearby slum clashed with officials and police officers who had arrived to clear illegal settlements. What began as a planned administrative action quickly escalated into chaos, with stones being thrown and officers struggling to control the situation. Several people, including a female police constable, were injured during the confrontation, highlighting the deep tensions between authorities and vulnerable communities in the city.
According to officials, the City Magistrate and the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) led a team of municipal corporation workers and police personnel to the site. Their task was to remove structures that were said to be illegally built on public land near the hospital. However, as soon as the operation began, the slum residents gathered in large numbers and protested, fearing they would lose their homes. Many residents claimed they had nowhere else to go and felt the action was unfair.
As arguments grew louder, the situation quickly slipped out of control. Despite repeated attempts by the magistrate and the DSP to calm the crowd and explain the purpose of the drive, some people began pelting stones at the officials and police. In the middle of the unrest, a female constable, Nisha Kumari, was surrounded and beaten with a stick. She later said that she was attacked while trying to protect her colleagues. Several other police officers and one municipal employee also suffered injuries, though none were seriously hurt.
After the violence broke out, police from Kankarbagh police station and additional security forces were rushed to the spot. They managed to disperse the crowd and restore order. The police have now started identifying those involved in the attack and said an FIR will be registered against the rioters. Officials have assured that legal action will be taken, while also stressing the need for better communication and humane solutions during such drives to avoid similar incidents in the future.
