Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh), Nov 29: Violence flared up in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad District after authorities began a drive to raze illegal construction.

Residents said they were shocked when huge cranes set about razing residential buildings. At least 200 buildings were brought down with cranes.

They said they had been staying in the area for the past five months and got possession certificates from the civic authorities.

"They took a deposit of 30,000 rupees from each family and they have proper receipt of it. The civic body has a blueprint of the area and despite all this they demolished it. They didn't even give a prior notice before destroying," said Raj Kumar, a builder.

However, the civic authorities maintained that the buildings were encroachments on government land.

"This land belongs to the civic body and is meant for the construction of houses for the poor. They (the residents) have illegally occupied the land. The land contractors must have connived with local goons and built illegal constructions. There is no question of serving them a prior notice," said Satish Rai, sub-divisional magistrate of Ghaziabad.

Ghaziabd is situated on the outskirts of New Delhi that witnessed large-scale violence last year over an official drive to shut 40,000 illegal stores. (ANI)