A high-tension situation unfolded at the busy 10 Number Market on Saturday when a street vendor attempted self-immolation to protest an anti-encroachment drive by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC). The incident triggered panic in the area and sparked outrage among local traders who accused the civic body of selective and biased enforcement. According to officials, the dispute centered around a cart (thela) that had recently been stationed in the parking zone of 10 Number Market. BMC’s anti-encroachment squad claimed they had been advising the vendor to remove the structure for the past several days.

 

When the vendor failed to comply, a team arrived on Saturday morning to forcibly remove the encroachment. As the team began seizing the cart, the vendor resisted the move, alleging that the squad was intentionally targeting only a few individuals while ignoring other major violations in the vicinity. In a fit of rage and desperation, the vendor poured a flammable substance over himself and set it on fire. Bystanders and fellow shopkeepers acted swiftly to douse the flames before they could cause fatal injuries. The injured vendor was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. This is not the first time the BMC’s anti-encroachment wing has faced such criticism.

 

Local business owners alleged that field staff often allow illegal structures to stand in exchange for bribes, while targeting those who refuse to pay. Similar protests occurred in Old City areas a month ago, where traders accused officials of acting with clear partiality. Srishti Bhadauria, Encroachment Officer, stated that the action was taken to prevent new encroachments from taking root. “The vendor had recently started placing his cart in the 10 Number parking area. We had been warning him for 10 days to vacate the spot as we aim to prevent any fresh obstructions. When the team finally went to remove the cart today, he took this extreme step,” Bhadauria explained.