Chaos at Tikki Wala Chowk as vendor alleges misbehaviour by MC official

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 18

It has been almost a month when decades-old famous Tikki Wala Chowk was completely razed by an MC team under stiff opposition from shopkeepers in the area, but for the Tehbazari Department, it has become a challenging task to stop vendors from setting up their stalls.

Today, a fight erupted between the vendors and the Superintendent, Tehbazari Department, Mandeep Singh. The vendors alleged that the official allegedly misbehaved with one of them.

The incident led to chaos in the area. It was also recorded in a CCTV camera.

Meanwhile, Mandeep Singh said it had become a routine that the department inspector visits the place and asks them to not to set up the stalls.

“One of our inspectors went on Monday and Tuesday to the place but still they (shopkeepers) were trying to set up the stalls,” he said.

The Superintendent said when the shopkeepers started misbehaving with him, he also answered in the same way.

The area councillor said he would talk to the Superintendent and a proper alternative place would be demanded for them. “We will see the CCTV camera footage and would act accordingly,” he said.

The Superintendent said he had asked them to set up their stalls at alternative sites.

“I have asked the area councillor to meet me tomorrow,” he said.

Hundreds of protesters, under the banner of the ‘Gareeb Bachao Morcha’, gheraoed Jyoti Chowk, Sudama Market, fruit market and the entire stretch and expressed anger against the MC during the demolition drive around a month ago.

The protesters had raised slogans against the MC authorities and sat on a dharna till evening, blocking the Jyoti chowk stretch.

Raising anti-government slogans, the agitated shopkeepers and vendors had rued that the demolition drive had left over 200 people jobless, who were earning their bread and butter from vending carts only.