A policeman drags a youth during the anti-encroachment drive in Gaya on Friday. Picture by Suman

The district administration’s anti-encroachment drive sparked violence on Friday with businessmen and owners of houses on Gautam Buddha Road in Gaya town torching a Gaya Municipal Corporation (GMC) vehicle.

The anti-encroachment drive started from Golpatthar towards north of Kotwali police station on Gautam Buddha Road in ward number 22.

The protesters pelted stones on the team involved in the anti-encroachment drive in which two policemen were injured.

Gaya senior superintendent of police (SSP) Vinay Kumar and city superintendent of police Babu Ram arrived at the spot and contained the situation. Police had to resort to lathicharge to control the protesters.

Following the protest at Golpatthar, additional security personnel joined the anti-encroachment drive team, which then marched towards Kotwali in the south. However, near Chhatta Masjid, angry people torched a GMC vehicle and also pelted stones on the police party and the anti-encroachment drive team members, who ran for cover into nearby houses and shops.

Gaya city superintendent of police told The Telegraph: “A case will be lodged against the protesters whose identification is in progress.”

Businessmen and residents of Gautam Buddha Road said GMC had been serving notices on them, which mentioned different areas of encroachment every time.

GMC city commissioner Dhaneshwar Chaudhary said the notices were served according to the measurements shown in the latest survey conducted to assess the area of encroachment, which was subject to change.

Gaya Sadar sub-divisional officer Paritosh Kumar said the anti-encroachment drive would continue.

GMC ward 22 councillor Laljee Prasad said urban development minister Prem Kumar, who is also the Gaya Town MLA, should look into the matter because the anti-encroachment team has been facing protests regularly.