Mumbai: Mulund residents, hawkers clash twice in a day over encroachments

The illegal hawkers in the area. Pics/By Special Arrangement

Hawkers and residents in Mulund clashed twice on Tuesday, first in the morning and again in the evening, after locals alleged they were verbally abused and threatened. Two residents have filed complaints with the police, claiming harassment during disputes over unauthorised encroachment on RTT Road in Mulund market, Ganesh Gawde Road and Walji Raja Road.

On Tuesday morning, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) also acted against unauthorised hawkers in the area. The licence department of the T ward conducted enforcement drives along multiple stretches.

Nirmal Thakkar, a local activist and member of the citizen group Jagrut Mulundkar, said he was travelling with his family on RTT Road when he found no space to pass because hawkers had taken over the road and footpath. "We have raised this issue many times. Hawkers occupy several lanes on the carriageway. When I stepped out to ask them to move, the local representative pushed me and began threatening me," he said.

Thakkar later approached the police and filed a non-cognisable offence. A second incident was reported on Tuesday evening by Sharadram Sejpal, a Mulund resident and member of Rasta Bachao Kruti Samiti. He alleged that a bread vendor followed him home and threatened him for repeatedly complaining to civic authorities about hawkers blocking junctions and turns.

"This causes severe congestion. One of the hawkers I had reported confronted me and said I was wrong to complain," Sejpal said. He also filed a non-cognisable offence. Thakkar has shared a video of his morning altercation on social media to mobilise support from residents.