India, March 9 -- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) chief, Bhushan Gagrani, on Sunday directed the authorities to take strict action against illegal hawkers and encroachments after a civic eviction drive in Kandivali turned violent. His response comes after a mob attacked civic officials and damaged vehicles on Friday night.

According to civic officials, the BMC team from the R-South ward was carrying out an anti-encroachment drive on March 7 at Vishwakarmanye Chowk near Lokhandwala Circle to remove unauthorised hawkers when a crowd allegedly assaulted officers and staff and vandalised vehicles belonging to the civic body.

The Samata Nagar police on Saturday arrested five persons for attacking BMC officials. During the attack...