Authorities in Chomu town, approximately 40 km from Jaipur in Rajasthan, commenced a demolition drive on Thursday morning, targeting illegal encroachments in areas including the bus stand and Pathan Mohalla, also referred to as Imam Chowk. The action involved bulldozers removing unauthorised constructions on public roads, amid heavy police deployment to maintain order.
The demolitions come a week after violent clashes in the early hours of December 26, 2025, triggered by an anti-encroachment operation near the Kalandri Mosque near the bus stand in Chomu.
A large quantity of boulders was stockpiled on the road near the mosque for a long time, which had narrowed the road, causing traffic congestion for years. Some say the stones were lying the for over 40 years. But with economic development and an increase in the number of vehicles in the area, the traffic issue caused by the stones had worsened.
People in the town were demanding the removal of the stones, and they approached the administration for the same. After the officials took up the matter, an agreement was reportedly reached recently between the mosque committee and municipal authorities to remove the large stones encroaching on the roadside.
Accordingly, police and machinery arrived on 25 December to execute the removal. The operation started peacefully, and the stones were removed. However, when the authorities started installing iron railings along the road to prevent further encroachment, locals protested and prevented the installation. By midnight, the confrontation with authorities escalated into stone-pelting, injuring several police. Police responded with tear gas and mild force, detaining over 110 individuals initially, with at least 19 arrests made, including named individuals such as Mukhtar Ali, Mohsin Khan, and others.
A heavy police force was deployed in the area after the incident, and a flag march was conducted. Internet services were temporarily suspended to prevent rumours.
On December 29, notices were issued to owners of four illegal constructions and around 20 unauthorised slaughterhouses in the area, giving a three-day deadline to remove the structures, such as stairs, ramps, platforms, etc, from public areas. It was warned that if they don’t comply, they will face bulldozer action. Notices were also pasted on the houses of 24 people accused of pelting stones at police, asking them to respond within 3 days.
But when nobody responded to the notices and didn’t remove the encroachments by the deadline on 31st December, the Chomu Municipal Council proceeded with the demolitions on 1st January, describing them as legally mandated under municipal laws and court directives to clear public land and ease traffic flow.
“Three days ago, we issued notices to 20-22 people who had encroached on the road, instructing them to remove the encroachments. Upon the expiry of the deadline, we are now taking action to remove these encroachments,” Chomu Municipal Council Health Inspector Sandeep Singh Kaviya said.
#WATCH | Jaipur, Rajasthan: On District Administration's demolition drive in Chomu, SHO Pradeep Sharma says, "A large pile of debris was present in the middle of the Chowk, and additional debris had been dumped by someone encroaching on the area. No weapons were discovered, but… pic.twitter.com/8tpdHZSwNx
— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2026
Accordingly, illegal constructions like ramps and walls outside over 50 houses and shops from Ashok Plaza to Imam Chowk were removed under “Operation Clean.” Officials emphasised that prior warnings had been given multiple times. A heavy police force was deployed during the demolitions. Some women had gathered to protest against the demolitions, but the police force removed them. The authorities have deployed additional forces, including a company of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC), in the area to maintain law and order.
Authorities said that the demolitions are required to widen the road and streamline traffic in the area, adding that action against encroachments will continue. An old airgun was also recovered while removing debris outside the mosque.
While those facing demolitions were protesting, others in the town are supporting the move, saying that it is needed to widen the road. They said that the stones were blocking the road for years, and illegal slaughterhouses and meat shops operating without licence create problems for the public and spread filth.
