Insha Mushtaq
On Friday, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) officials vandalized and seized the goods of street hawkers in the LalChowk area of central Kashmir’s Srinagar district, citing ‘illegal encroachment’ as the reason.
A video that surfaced on Twitter shows SMC officials impounding the goods of the street hawkers while the street vendors are seen appealing the officials to return their goods.
A street vendor, appealing to the SMC officials, can be heard saying, “I am a father of a daughter, have some mercy on me,” while his goods were being confiscated in the SMC van.
Recieved this Heartbreaking 😰 Video through Whatsapp,See how Smc demolition team Conducts anti-encroachment drive in Srinagar's Lal Chowk,Request @Junaid_Mattu @AtharAamirKhan for immediate action@islahmufti @ShujaUH @OmarAbdullah @SaraHayatShah @abidwani_ pic.twitter.com/pgsnA4v0cT
— Aazan Manzoor (آزان منظور) (@AazanManzoor1) January 28, 2022
An SMC official, while impounding the caps from a street hawker, can also be heard saying that even though this act is a cruel and unjust act of exploitation but he is bound to do this as he has been ordered to do this by higher-ups and fears suspension from the higher authorities.
Bilal Ahmed, a street hawker, can be heard saying, “We have been suffering due to subsequent lockdowns since years now, owing to the Abrogation and then the lockdowns imposed due to Covid-19. Despite a high unemployment rate, the government and the officials are apathetic and unconcerned towards this issue.”
Today in Srinagar-
Don't hear the poor? pic.twitter.com/lxz6tFZbOH
— Qazi Shibli (قاضی شبلی) (@QaziShibli) January 28, 2022
Alleging corruption by the officials, Bilal Ahmed claimed, “Much of the pavement encroachments by established commercial outlets and bigger shops are let off the by the authorities but we, poor street hawkers, are frequently taken to task and chased away. We are vulnerable to harassment by civic staff as well as the police.”
Also Read: ‘Brazen and Cruel’- Social Media Fumes over ‘Anti-Encroachment’ Drive in Baramulla
It is pertinent to mention here that a few weeks ago, employees of Municipal Corporation, Baramulla took action against the cart vendors. The officials were caught on camera, while harassing and vandalizing the carts of the street vendors in the Baramulla district. After the matter gained public attention, four employees were suspended for harassing the street vendors.