Hawkers and Vendors Protest Against Eviction in Rampurhat, Guard Shops Round-the-Clock

In order to oppose being forced to leave their businesses, more than 200 hawkers and vendors in Birbhum's Rampurhat decided to lock down their establishments and defy any attempts by the police to enter.

"The local administration declared that they would evict us, even though the chief minister had ordered that the eviction drive cease for one month. An INTUC leader and businessman who owns a shoe store in Rampurhat town, Shahjada Hossain, stated, "That is why we formed a team to guard the area and ensure no eviction takes place."

He said, "We decided to guard the area at night to ensure no one can bring a bulldozer to demolish our shops because we don't trust the local administration."

At Panch Matha More, a five-point intersection in Rampurhat town, hawkers and shopkeepers who operate on footpaths on various roads convened on Saturday morning to voice their opposition to the eviction campaign. They said that the local government intended to expel them from their present location, which would have an impact on their lives and livelihoods, in defiance of the chief minister's decision.

"We believed that the eviction drive would end following the chief minister's guarantee. However, the local government made a strong campaign announcement on Friday night that the effort would go on. As we are all impoverished, the only way we can make ends meet is by operating our stalls on the sidewalks, according to hawker Chandan Chakraborty.

The traders claimed that the railway authorities brought a bulldozer on Saturday to destroy the hawkers' makeshift stores in their neighborhoods, acting on the state government's request.

The traders made the decision to stay overnight to secure the location and blocked the road to stop the bulldozer from moving further.

The railroads dared not to forcibly remove us while the state government was on our side. The railways are now attempting to take advantage of the state government's ultimatum to evacuate its territory, according to a trader.

A group of vendors contested the validity of their removal, arguing that the nearby municipalities had granted them trade licenses to operate on the sidewalk.

"How did the municipality grant us trade licenses if we were illegal?" Our names are linked to electrical connections. Then, how are they going to get us out of here? questioned the head of the INTUC, Shahjada Hossain.

The traders have made the choice to hold up their protest until the administration reverses course and permits them to carry on with their operations from their current site.

In the meantime, the Bolpur district administration met and decided that, per the chief minister's directives, there would be no eviction drive for a month.

"What the railways performed in Rampurhat is unknown to us. However, per our chief minister's orders, we shall halt all eviction activities for a month. Birbhum district magistrate Bidhan Ray stated, "We will now carry out a survey to find a suitable place for those vending on the footpath or the hawkers."

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