Meerut, Sept. 18 -- The Meerut administration on Thursday carried out a major demolition drive in Salawa village under the Sardhana police station limits, razing alleged illegal constructions built over a drain by those accused in last week's violent clash.

The bulldozer action, backed by heavy police force, freed the encroached land and sent a strong message that disturbances to law and order will not be tolerated.

The move came days after a bloody confrontation between groups from Thakur and Muslim communities over fishing rights left nine people injured. Police had rushed to the spot at the time, brought the situation under control, and detained several suspects.

District magistrate Vijay Kumar Singh, who supervised the crackdown, s...