Eviction drive triggers tension in Farangipet

An eviction drive by railway officials under police protection at Farangipet gave rise to tension for a few hours on Thursday, with vendors and the citizens strongly opposing the drive.

Railways officials said that the land close to National Highway 75 was in their possession and was being encroached upon by vendors selling fish and meat. The encroachers, however, had paid no heed to repeated warnings from the officials. A week ago, the officials had issued an ultimatum to the encroachers.

On Thursday, the railway officials launched an eviction drive. As news of the arrival of the officials with earthmovers to demolish structures and petty shops around spread, Pudu Gram Panchayat President Ramlan Maripalla rushed to the spot.

Tension prevailed for some time after the vendors and the public expressed outrage over the eviction. Some fishermen also staged a symbolic protest by selling fish on the road.

The situation returned to normal after the railway officials bowed to pressure and withdrew from the spot.

The deadline for clearance by the encroachers has been extended by a month at present.