Violence at Chhatarpur Metro station: police, vendors trade charges
17 Jan 2014 5:03 AM IST
On a day when National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) started its 16-day agitation against daily-harassment, the scene outside Chhatarpur Metro station turned ugly.
The confusion started as soon as police reached the Metro station to remove the unauthrosied street vendors from the area as part of its encroachment removal drive. A team of South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) officials were also present with the police officers.
‘There were several complaints of illegal street vendors standing outside the gate of the Metro station that were distracting the commuters,’ a police official requesting anonymity said. Since the past few months 15-17 vendors had started putting stalls in the area. They were reportedly asked several times to remove their stalls, however, they ignored the orders.
When the joint team reached the spot, the vendors were asked to remove their illegal stalls. ‘On this the vendors turned violent and started pelting stones at the policemen and the SDMC officials. The team tried to take control over the situation but failed. As a result the team returned to the police station,’ a senior police official in south district police department said.
A complaint has been made by the SMCD officials at Vasant Kunj (south) police station on the basis of which five street vendors have been detained. In the havoc created by the vendors, one head constable and two officials of SDMC received injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital. They were later discharged.
However, NASVI has alleged that the vendors were beaten up by the policemen for not paying bribe. NASVI said that the vendors were beaten up by three policemen posted at Vasant Kunj police station. Two of the three policemen have been identified as Hemant and Mohit. The beaten up vendors include a female vendor as well.
NASVI has decided to organise protest on Thursday at Vasant Kunj police station. Arbind Singh, NASVI national coordinator said, ‘I strongly condemn the outrageous police action and demand immediate suspension of the policemen. It has also demanded stern action against south Vasant Kunj SHO Ved Prakash for letting his constables do what they like.’ Delhi police have denied NASVI’s allegations.
The confusion started as soon as police reached the Metro station to remove the unauthrosied street vendors from the area as part of its encroachment removal drive. A team of South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) officials were also present with the police officers.
‘There were several complaints of illegal street vendors standing outside the gate of the Metro station that were distracting the commuters,’ a police official requesting anonymity said. Since the past few months 15-17 vendors had started putting stalls in the area. They were reportedly asked several times to remove their stalls, however, they ignored the orders.
When the joint team reached the spot, the vendors were asked to remove their illegal stalls. ‘On this the vendors turned violent and started pelting stones at the policemen and the SDMC officials. The team tried to take control over the situation but failed. As a result the team returned to the police station,’ a senior police official in south district police department said.
A complaint has been made by the SMCD officials at Vasant Kunj (south) police station on the basis of which five street vendors have been detained. In the havoc created by the vendors, one head constable and two officials of SDMC received injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital. They were later discharged.
However, NASVI has alleged that the vendors were beaten up by the policemen for not paying bribe. NASVI said that the vendors were beaten up by three policemen posted at Vasant Kunj police station. Two of the three policemen have been identified as Hemant and Mohit. The beaten up vendors include a female vendor as well.
NASVI has decided to organise protest on Thursday at Vasant Kunj police station. Arbind Singh, NASVI national coordinator said, ‘I strongly condemn the outrageous police action and demand immediate suspension of the policemen. It has also demanded stern action against south Vasant Kunj SHO Ved Prakash for letting his constables do what they like.’ Delhi police have denied NASVI’s allegations.
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