Police hesitate to take action on illegal hawkers

MUMBAI: While slamming Thursday's incident, citizen groups across the city told that belligerence amongst illegal hawkers and the police's reluctance to register complaints against them is on the rise.

Kavita Thakker's case follows several instances of hawker violence at Bandra, Vakola and Andheri where residents were assaulted for raising their voice against the illegal hawker nuisance.

On September 2011, around five men entered Dev Laxmi Jewellers at S V Road near Andheri (West) station, dragged out store owner Roshan Lal Jashi (50) and started hitting him in front of a large crowd. Joshi had regularly raised his voice against illegal hawkers who blocked the front of legal shops in the area, thereby affecting their business.

Aftab Siddique, chairperson, 33rd Road ALM of Linking Road in Khar (West), recalled another instance where a BMC lorry inspector was allegedly attacked by Andheri hawkers. "She had to sit for five hours in the police station and was not being heard. She was detained and couldn't register her complaint. If cops do not listen to civic officials, why would they listen to citizens? They are always reluctant to register a complaint against hawkers." He further said residents have no say in the matter.

Anil Joseph, chairperson, Perry Road Residents' Association, said cases where complainants end up being victimized by the police and get cases slapped against them are not new. "We have been told in the past by high-ranking police officials that hawking is very low on their list of priorities as murder and terrorism take precedence. But with rising cases of lower level police officials colluding with hawkers and politicians, senior officers should crack down on them. They should ensure that women and senior citizens who complain against hawking and civic-related issues are treated with respect and not victimized at local police stations."

Calling the decision to slap a CRPC notice on a resident "ridiculous", Anandini Thakoor, chairperson, H (West) Citizens' Trust, said, "A lady harassing a hawker is ironical. We, as residents, should take this up with higher authorities. Strict action should be taken against officers who victimize complainants. It's high time citizens work together and take a decision on the issue. We want to put an end to this menace once and for all."

Thanks TOI

Mumbai police will wait another one week till Eid for Azad Maidan rioters arrest

MUMBAI: The Mumbai police will now have to wait for at least another one week to arrest the rest of around two dozen suspects accused of rioting, arson and assaulting policemen in the Saturday's protest at Azad Maidan.

Crime branch on Tuesday had said that they have identified around 35 to 40 youths from various parts of Mumbai for the Saturday's rioting. On Saturday, the Muslim organisations had staged a morcha at Azad Maidan ground to protest the atrocities on Muslims in Burma and Myanmar. The protest turned violent after one of the notorious group attacked the policemen leading to police firing in which two persons were killed and 63 persons including 58 policemen were injured.

Police had arrested 23 persons on Sunday responsible for the rioting and assaulting policemen. Now police have started identifying the suspects who were seen rioting and assualting policemen. On Wednesday night police arrested Salim Chuakiya from Oshiwara after two policemen identified him through the CCTV footage circulated by the police.

Sources said that many of the protestors are now scared and wants to surrender before the police but they dont want to spend their festival-Ramzan Eid inside the police lockups. "My friend Munir wants to surrender before the police as he is seen in the protest rally, but he said that he will surrender only after spending the Eid,'' said Zuber Khan from Crawford Market area. Munir is not alone there are few others who have been advised by their lawyers to surrender only after the Idd celebration.

Sources said that these people have been advised by the lawyers to go underground or stay away from their permanent houses as police as well zero numbers (police informers) are moving around fishing them.