Sitabuldi traders’ token strike total
| Date :24-Sep-2020 |
Senior PI J N Rajput engaged in intense dialogue with a striking traders in a bid to resolve the impasse at Sitabuldi market on Wednesday.
Staff Reporter :
The merchants were protesting against move by hawkers to demarcate permanent spaces on the main road
Sitabuldi merchants observed a day’s token strike on Wednesday protesting the unilateral move by hawkers to carve out permanent spaces for themselves on the main road. All the commercial establishments remained closed as traders got united under the banner of Sitabuldi Merchants Association to register their protest.
Shut down: The bustling Sitabuldi main road wore a deserted look as traders observed token strike on Wednesday. (Pics by Anil Futane)
The merchants said since the case about eviction of street vendors from Sitabuldi is subjudice how could hawkers mark out boxes as if the land is allotted permanently to them, asked Hussain Ajani, owner of Montinna Shoes. The traders assembled near Friends showroom and discussed their next course of action. A delegation of traders later called on Sr PI J N Rajput at Sitabuldi police station and submitted him a memorandum listing their demands.
Talking to The Hitavada, Ajani said it’s a wonder that without any authorisation the hawkers could dare to carve out street corners bang in front of their showrooms. The move by hawkers was against the spirit of court orders which has ordered status quo and the painting of rectangle boxes on streets was an attempt to skew the equation necessitating our reaction. The Sitabuldi main road is meant for one way movement of traffic and the presence of hawkers has reduced the width resulting in congestion throughout the day in the busy market area. Time and again the traders have demanded eviction of hawkers from the road but authorities have turned a blind eye towards the encroachment.
During the afternoon, tempers flared-up after the hawkers and merchants came face to face in a show of strength by either side. For the law and order machinery it was a tricky situation given the fact that the situation on pandemic front is at its worst in city. Despite the lingering fear, the market saw assembly of so many persons gave goose bumps to the cops who promptly rushed additional force to prevent any flare-up. Ajani said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-II) Vanita Sahu also reached the spot and asked for co-operation given the fact that prohibitory orders are in force and such mass gathering is prevalent threat of virus transmission. Later a delegation of traders held discussion with DCP Sahu wherein she was acquaint with dispute and past orders of Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court against the hawkers. The traders planned to meet Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar so as to explain their apprehension and clear the facts. Today Commissioner of Police was busy with meeting and hence the merchants could not get appointment.
Hawkers reverse their act The show of unity on part of Sitabuldi traders seems to have desired effect as later in afternoon the hawkers reversed their acts that had triggered the showdown. The hawkers, put on backfoot, themselves erased the white coloured rectangles drawn on the main road. The hawkers it seems fell into trap as they were advised to draw-up fixed space for themselves as many a time they tend to display their wares eating up sizable portion on the already congested street. But angry reaction from Sitabuldi traders and nudging from some corners finally restored the status quo on the spot.
Cops book traders, hawkers Sitabuldi police have booked the Buldi merchants and also the hawkers for violation of prohibitory orders in the city. Acting swiftly in aftermath of showdown between the two disputing parties over rights on Sitabuldi main road, cops moved in and slapped offences on traders as well as street vendors. Both the sides have been accused of unlawful assembly, taking out march without permission and holding demonstrations. From traders’ side those booked are Hussain, Kisan Agrawal, Pradeep Gupta, Kisan Mangwani, Param Thakkar, Vijay Agrawal, Prajot Deshpande, Masood Mansoor, Narayan Chourasia, Arjun Bhojwani and others. On the other side those named in the FIR are Gopichand Ambhure, Avinash Tirpude, Durgaprasad Kelramani, Sandeep Sahu, Hemant Gotmange, Naresh Dhage, Rajesh, Chandu Agrawal, Atik Ansari and others. Head Constable Sunil Ingle is the complainant in both the FIRs. Police slapped Sections 143, 145, 188, 269, 270 of IPC R/w Section 135 of Bombay Police Act.