Lucknow Chaos: Mob Attacks Police During Anti-Encroachment Drive
A violent clash erupted in Lucknow's Ashiyana area as shopkeepers attacked police during an anti-encroachment drive. Two arrested.
A routine operation to clear unauthorized stalls turned into a violent battlefield in Lucknow's Ashiyana area on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. A Lucknow police attack occurred when a mob of shopkeepers turned aggressive, physically assaulting officers who were attempting to remove illegal markets obstructing public roads.
The Spark: Clearing the 'Mangal Bazaar'
The confrontation unfolded near the PWD Colony at the so-called 'Mangal Bazaar'. According to Ashiyana Inspector Gajendra Kumar Ray, vendors had illegally occupied the public road, setting up stalls that caused significant traffic congestion and public inconvenience. When the police team arrived to enforce the law and instruct the vendors to vacate the area, the atmosphere turned hostile.
Violence Erupts: Constables Targeted
What started as a disagreement quickly spiraled into a full-scale assault. The crowd began hurling abuses at the police personnel, eventually chasing them and launching a physical attack. The brutality of the incident was captured on camera, with videos circulating on social media showing the chaos.
The footage reveals a harrowing scene where a female constable was grabbed by her hair and struck. Simultaneously, a male constable was violently thrown to the ground and beaten by the mob.
Police Response and Reinforcements
As the situation grew uncontrollable, additional police reinforcements were rushed to the spot. The officers were forced to use strength to disperse the aggressive crowd and regain control of the area.
Legal Action and Arrests
The Ashiyana police have acted swiftly following the violence. Two individuals, identified as Ankit Jaiswal and Ramkrishna, have already been arrested.
A formal First Information Report (FIR) has been registered based on a complaint filed by Outpost In-charge Sandeep Thakur. The legal proceedings have named the following individuals:
- Ankit Jaiswal
- Maya Devi
- Ramkrishna
- Approximately 48 unidentified persons
The accused have been charged with assaulting government officials and obstructing them from performing their official duties. While the shopkeepers have leveled allegations of misconduct against the police, authorities stated that legal action is being pursued based on the evidence gathered from the scene. A manhunt is currently underway to apprehend the remaining suspects, including Maya Devi.