Mangalore: Tension prevails at Central Market as merchants, street vendors clash
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore, Jan 4: Tension prevailed at Central Market here on Saturday January 4 after a protest by Central Market merchants' association was interrupted by street vendors.
The protest was organized by the merchants' association against the presence of street vendors at the market, but it turned chaotic after the vendors staged a counter protest on the spot.
Hameed Kandak of Central Market merchants' association was addressing the protest when street vendors arrived there and began shouting slogans against the protestors. Two of the street vendors even began advancing towards Kandak, but were stopped by the police and taken into custody.
DYFI city president Imtiyaz along with Razak, both members of Central Market street vendors' association, also arrived and shouted slogans. As both sides began to shout a barrage of slogans against each other, the situation turned tense and police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse the mob.
Imtiyaz was also taken into custody along with three others.
A few minutes later, honorary president of street vendors' association Sunil Kumar Bajal arrived at the spot and a verbal clash began between him and the police. He and four of his people were taken into custody.
The road was completely choked during the clash.
Earlier during the protest, Hameed Kandak in his address said, “According to Corporation Act the street vendors should not sell their items withing 200 metres of Central Market, but they are doing so illegally. The corporation has not taken action against this violation. Labourers are paid Rs 10 for upto 50 kg for carrying goods. Every labourer earns Rs 600 a day."
During a protest of street vendors' association on Thursday January 3, Sunil Kumar Bajal had said that labourers were not being paid suitably for their work at the Central Market. He had also said, "Although there is a Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending Bill, 2012, it has been not implemented in the city. Though an alternate facility was assured in the MCC meeting for street vendors association it has not yet been done."