India, Feb. 10 -- Adhering to the Punjab and Haryana high court directive, the Jalandhar district administration launched a special operation to remove illegal encroachments and constructions in the controversial Latifpura locality on Tuesday morning.

Amid heavy police deployment, teams from the Jalandhar Improvement Trust and the municipal corporation reached the site at 4.30am to reclaim land owned by the JIT. The area was cordoned off, restricting the movement of the public and media as the demolition of makeshift structures began.

The action sparked immediate unrest, with members of the Latifpura Rehabilitation Committee climbing atop a water tank in nearby Buta Mandi. Protesters, some reportedly carrying petrol bottles, alleged the...