Around a dozen people, including seven policemen, were injured when police opened fire in the air and used batons to control a mob protesting an anti-encroachment drive here on Tuesday.

The incident took place in Sector 126 when officials of Noida Authority along with police went there to evict encroachers from a piece of land this morning, a senior police official said.

As the authorities reached the spot, locals started pelting stones at them and targeted vehicles.

To control the mob, the official said, police opened fire in the air and later used batons. "Around 12 people were injured in the incident. This includes seven policemen," the official said.

Some locals have been taken into custody in connection with the violence.