MUMBAI: Taking cognizance of several complaints about hawkers misbehaving with citizens, especially women, police commissioner Rakesh Maria has decided to take matters into his own hands.

In a letter to municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte, Maria gave an assurance that maximum police security will be provided to the BMC to take action against illegal hawkers. “At present, our men are busy in post-election bandobast. Once the results are declared, we will provide police teams to civic officials when they go to take action against illegal hawkers anywhere in the city,” said Maria.

Sources in the BMC said they will start a drive against illegal hawkers near railway stations first and then spread out in different parts of the city.

There have been several recent instances of hawkers assaulting civic officials on eviction drives. On May 9, a group of hawkers assaulted a civic lorry licence inspector, Pradeep Deole, and a tempo driver during an eviction drive in Ghatkopar. The duo was treated at Rajawadi Hospital, while the Pant Nagar police arrested two of the hawkers, Raju Kathewadi and Ketan Kathewadi.

On April 26, a TV journalist was assaulted by a group of roadside stall owners after he confronted one of them for allegedly harassing his wife in a Malad market. While the police arrested three hawkers, three others are still on the run.

“We have been trying to get the BMC to evict hawkers in Vile Parle for a long time now, but they keep telling us that they don’t get police protection. Now, with Maria taking this proactive step, the eviction drives should begin,” said Rajni Vats of the K-West Residents’ Association.

But not all were convinced. “Even if Maria has committed to providing protection during eviction drives, the local police will still be evasive. The BMC-local police-hawkers nexus can’t be broken easily,” claimed Sanjay Samat of the Naigaon Residents’ Association in Dadar (E).

