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
