Pics: Umesh Marpalli/Pareekshith Shet
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (UM)

Udupi, Feb 15: The officials of the City Municipal Council (CMC) with the help of the police on Wednesday February 15 forcibly evicted street vendors near the service bus stand, sparking protests by locals and the vendors.

The CMC had put up notices near the bus stand barring street vendors and petty shops from encroaching the area, stating that the space was meant for parking and for pedestrians.

However, for the past few days, street vendors had encroached the area and were conducting business despite the notice from the CMC.

On Wednesday, the CMC officials along with the police arrived at the spot and forcibly evicted the vendors, taking away their carts and goods.

What infuriated the vendors and the locals was the manner in which the eviction was done. The officials, in their attempt to evict the vendors, scattered their fruits and vegetables all over the street, causing them losses. The vendors pleaded with the officials to return their groceries which were their means of subsistence, but to no avail.

The locals who gathered at the spot expressed ire at the officials for 'targetting' the poor. "Those who own buildings illegally use parking spaces for commercial purpose, forcing the people to park on the road, in turn inconveniencing the pedestrians and commuters. The administration is lenient towards them and targets only the poor who depend on meager incomes," they said.

Arguments erupted between the officials, the police and the vendors over the issue.

Finally, however, the officials had their way, as they bundled the carts and evicted the vendors. Sources said that the loss of groceries caused to the vendors has been estimated at Rs 10,000.