LUCKNOW, May 17 -- A demolition drive launched by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) outside the district court in Qaiserbagh on Sunday led to chaotic scenes even as an unverified video clip on social media showed police resorting to a lathi-charge and protesters allegedly pelting officials with stones.

The action, carried out under directions from the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court, triggered protests from advocates who alleged that the civic body exceeded the notified scope of demolition and targeted structures beyond the 72 structures for which notices had earlier been served.

While LMC officials maintained they acted against illegal encroachments built on public land and drains, advocates accused the civic body of ch...