Kolkata's New Market Traders Stage Protest Following Alleged Hawker Assault
Traders at Kolkata's iconic New Market took to the streets on Thursday, forming a human chain and blocking Bertram Street in a dramatic protest. The demonstration erupted after a group of approximately 25 hawkers allegedly assaulted three employees of a stationery shop located in the B Block of the Grade-I heritage building.
Violent Confrontation Sparks Outrage
The incident began when Mukhtar, an employee of shop B-36, went to Gate No. 18 to unload goods for the store. A dispute arose over a delay in moving a delivery van parked near a hawker's stall. According to accounts, several hawkers initiated a physical attack on Mukhtar without provocation.
"Without hearing my logic on the delay in the removal of the delivery van, the hawkers started showering blows on me. My shirt was torn and I was left wounded. No hawker came to my help. I felt insulted more than the pain," Mukhtar told reporters.
When Mohammed Sahid attempted to intervene and rescue his colleague, over a dozen hawkers surrounded both men and subjected them to brutal punching. A third employee, Miraj, who arrived later, was also attacked. The violence escalated as some hawkers entered New Market to identify the owner of shop B-36, threatening another employee, Debobrata Ghosh, with dire consequences.
Traders Mobilize in Human Chain Protest
As news of the assault spread, traders gathered in large numbers on Bertram Street, deciding to protest by forming a human chain that effectively blocked the busy thoroughfare. The protest disrupted traffic and prevented shoppers from entering the market area.
Police from the New Market Police Station rushed to the scene to manage the situation. While officers listened to traders' grievances, they advised filing a formal complaint to enable legal action against the perpetrators.
"If the traders lodge a formal complaint, we will track down the errant hawkers and take them into custody," stated a senior police officer present at the location.
Underlying Tensions Over Hawker Encroachment
The protest revealed deeper frustrations among traders regarding what they describe as systemic issues with hawker encroachment around New Market. Many traders expressed anger over perceived police inaction in removing illegal stalls from surrounding streets.
Ashok Gupta, president of the SS Hogg Market Traders Association, highlighted ongoing concerns: "Time and again, we lodged complaints against hawker-raj in and around New Market. The rampant encroachment of carriageways by hawkers virtually put an end to our business prospects."
Uday Sahoo, secretary of the association, emphasized the vulnerability felt by traders: "The assault laid bare how vulnerable we were. It was unthinkable that workers from our stalls would be beaten up and hawkers would enter the market chasing our colleagues. How long will we tolerate this?"
Some traders alleged that certain hawkers operate with impunity due to backing from local political figures, creating what they described as a "reign of terror" in the area. The incident has reignited debates about balancing the rights of established traders with those of street vendors in one of Kolkata's most historic commercial districts.
