Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Protest Halts Jhabua Encroachment Drive Amid Selective Action Claims
Jhabua officials visited an area to measure buildings and structures suspected of blocking public land, roads, and drains.
Some residents protested the visit.
They said they had not been warned beforehand and that officials were acting unfairly.
Municipal officials said they were only marking the areas and were not removing anything that day.
Officials also accused two residents of stopping government work and asked police to register a case.
After the dispute, the team left without completing the drive.
The municipality later issued a notice about sheds, stairs, and ramps blocking roads and drains.
Property owners were given three days to remove them or face removal by a JCB and possible cost recovery.
A Jhabua municipal team returned without completing its encroachment measurement and marking drive after protests in Tulsi Gali, Ward No. 6.
Officials said residents Abhimanyu Singh Bais and Ajit Bais obstructed government work and submitted a police complaint seeking an FIR.
Chief Municipal Officer Milan Patel said the team was only measuring and marking alleged encroachments, not removing them.
Residents alleged the team arrived without prior notice and accused the administration of selectively targeting some properties.
A municipal notice gave traders and building owners three days to remove alleged obstructions before possible JCB action and cost recovery.
- Who
- The Jhabua municipal team, local residents, municipal officials, Chief Municipal Officer Milan Patel, and traders and building owners in the affected areas.
- What
- An encroachment measurement and marking drive was disrupted by protests, while the municipality later ordered alleged obstructions to be removed within three days.
- When
- The drive took place on Thursday; the removal deadline in the public notice was three days.
- Where
- Tulsi Gali and the main market in Ward No. 6 of Jhabua, including areas around Chandrashekhar Azad Marg.
- Why
- The municipality said it was assessing alleged encroachments on government land, roads, and drains that obstructed traffic and drain cleaning.
Municipal Administration
Residents
Purpose of the drive
Municipal Administration
Officials said the team was following higher-level instructions to measure and mark alleged encroachments, not remove them during the visit.
Residents
Residents viewed the campaign as action against alleged encroachments and demanded that it be conducted transparently and equally.
Notice and fairness
Municipal Administration
The municipality later issued a public notice identifying alleged sheds, stairs, and ramps obstructing roads and drains, with a three-day removal deadline.
Residents
Residents alleged that municipal employees arrived without prior notice and accused the administration of selective action.
Disruption of government work
Municipal Administration
Officials alleged that Abhimanyu Singh Bais and Ajit Bais argued with employees, used abusive language, and obstructed the drive.
Residents
The residents’ side protested the process, while the article reports their broader objection was that the action lacked prior notice and was not even-handed.
- Location
- Tulsi Gali, Ward No. 6, Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh
- Municipal action
- Measurement and marking of alleged encroachments
- Residents’ allegation
- The team arrived without prior notice and was taking selective action
- Official allegation
- Abhimanyu Singh Bais and Ajit Bais obstructed government work and allegedly abused employees
- Police action sought
- Municipal officials submitted a written application seeking an FIR
- Removal deadline
- Three days for traders and building owners to remove alleged obstructions
- Enforcement measure
- The municipality said it could use a JCB and recover removal costs from property owners