The anti-encroachment squad faced stiff resistance as a group of irate vendors pelted stones at them. A labourer was injured in the stone-pelting. Later in the afternoon, the PMC officials filed an FIR at Vishrambaug police station. No arrests were made till late evening.

The civic administration had charged fine from the encroaching vendors on Thursday. Thirtyfive trucks of vegetables and fruits were seized during Friday's action, officials said.

The action was initiated under heavy police cover around 5.45 am. The action was stopped after the stone-pelting around 12.30 pm.

The roads cleared during the drive included those linking the Gotiram Bhaiyya chowk with Govind Halwai chowk, Nehru chowk with the junction opposite the Shukrwar Peth police chowky and Rameshwar chowk with the Dhnyabazar near Minarva Parking space.

Raju Kasurde, Vijay More and Sambhaji Chavan of Shri Swami Samartha Vyapari Sangh alleged that the civic staff misbehaved with the traders. The civic officials denied the charges.

The traders claimed that operated by obtaining a pass paying Rs five on daily basis for the last several years. The civic staff said issual of the daily passes has been stopped after Municipal Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad issued orders to the effect.