Hawkers’ forum to gherao New Market PS against illegal hawkers
Times of India | 4 March 2025
123 Kolkata: In a reversal of roles, the Hawker Sangram Committee, one of the largest platforms for the protection of hawkers that used to gherao police stations to protest against the eviction of hawkers from Kolkata streets, has decided to do the same exercise at New Market police station. This is to press the demand for the removal of hawker encroachment in and around New Market.
The general secretary of the Hawker Sangram Committee and a member of the Town Vending Committee, Saktiman Ghosh, said on Monday that hawkers would assemble at New Market police station on Friday and continue with the gherao programme until the officer-in-charge gives an assurance to make the New Market hawking hub an encroachment-free area.
Ghosh expressed surprise at how a section of hawkers who were removed from the carriageways in and around New Market could stage a comeback without resistance.
"It may sound strange that as a hawker union leader, I have to press the demand for the removal of hawkers from the New Market area. I am not against all hawkers. But I need to raise my voice against those who are encroaching on the carriageway despite knowing that it is illegal. It is a mystery who is behind these hawkers, helping them to grab prime hawking space," said Ghosh.
Ghosh pointed a finger at the cops of New Market police station for not taking proper steps to remove unauthorized hawkers from around the heritage market. Debasish Das, another hawker union leader, questioned the efficacy of the cops in ensuring encroachment-free roads in the vicinity of New Market. "Be it Bertram Street, Humayun Place, Hogg Street, or Market Street, the encroachment is growing by the day, taking advantage of a totally silent police force," said Das.
Ghosh recalled a meeting where mayor Firhad Hakim asked the OC of New Market to clear the carriageways in and around New Market and also keep constant vigil on fresh encroachments. "It is very unfortunate that the cops are not paying heed to the mayor's words too," said Ghosh.
According to Ashraf Ali, a joint secretary of the SS Hogg Market Traders' Association, growing encroachment of hawkers and frequent clashes between two hawker groups on Bertram Street and other carriageways have made it difficult for traders to do business. "We have been suffering huge losses due to hawker encroachment for the past several years. We expected that things would change as the KMC and cops conducted a joint exercise to remove unauthorized hawkers last year. But the scene has worsened in recent months," he said.