The demolition drive of Tata Steel quarters near Gandhi Chowk in Vidyapati Nagar under Sidhgora police station on Tuesday turned ugly as about 15 persons including seven women sustained injuries as police resorted to lathicharge on protesters on the second day of demolition drive.

Three seriously injured are undergoing treatment at the MGM Medical College and Hospital. Tata Steel subsidiary Jusco, which was carrying out the demolition drive on over 50 illegally occupied quarters of the company had come to the site to stop the construction.

Meanwhile, 50 members of the Mukhi Samaj, who had been staying in the quarters met the East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Amitabh Kaushal and Dhalbhum SDO Prem Ranjan at the district collectorate around the same time and returned from the meeting after an assurance that demolition would be temporarily halted for two days.

However, as soon as the members of the Mukhi Samaj, who had gone to meet the administration officials reached the site and soon  a section of the protesters started pelting stones on the payloaders and on the police jawans deployed at the site.

The police force resorted to a mild-lathicharge.The protesters meanwhile are contemplating to take legal recourse to get a stay order against the demolition drive. “We have been living here for so many years and now we are forced to fight for justice. The demolition work was carried out on Monday without any prior notice. We will not let the demolition done till we are given alternative settlement site,” said Baiju Mukhi senior functionary of the Mukhi Samaj.

Dhalbhum SDO Prem Ranjan said that administration after hearing the petition of the protesters had agreed to halt the demolition drive for two days. “We had assured the people but I am not aware of any lathicharge. I will be seeking a report from the magistrate DK Pandey deputed at the site,” the SDO said.

Meanwhile, JUSCO spokesperson, Rajesh Rajan said that they have got permission from district administration to demolish 60 quarters illegally occupied by nearby slum residents.