For the second consecutive day, clashes broke out between hawkers and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) staff during an anti-encroachment drive in the busy Bardi market area. On Sunday, as civic teams moved in to clear footpaths, resistance from hawkers escalated into heated arguments. Police intervened and arrested 19 hawkers for obstructing official work and creating a law-and-order situation.
The tension did not subside even the next day, as hawkers and their representatives continued to protest against the drive. Representatives submitted a proposal in the presence of authorities, demanding that the action against licensed vendors be stopped immediately. They alleged that despite having valid permits, vendors were being targeted and their livelihoods were being snatched away.
Police deployment was tightened in the area to prevent further disturbances. Senior officers confirmed that the situation remains under control but tense. Civic officials, however, maintained that the drive was necessary to keep footpaths clear and ensure smooth movement for pedestrians.
Congress MLA Vikas Thakre criticized the civic administration, calling the action against licensed hawkers “unjust and illegal.” He stated that hawkers are the backbone of the city’s economy, providing affordable goods and services to ordinary citizens. “Targeting them is not just harassment, but an attack on the survival of thousands of families,” he said, warning that the issue will be raised more forcefully in coming days.
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