KDMC organizes massive drive after shopkeeper assaults civic staff, takes action against 150 hawkers

Following the assault on a Kalyan-Dombivli municipal corporation (KDMC) civic official, who had asked a shopkeeper to remove his illegal shed, the civic body organized a massive drive in the area and took action against all those who were flouting rules on Thursday.

Yesterday morning, around 50 civic officials from various wards arrived at the spot along with over a dozen police officials and took action against 150 hawkers and shopkeepers who were either operating illegally or had made unauthorized extensions.

During the drive, the police presence ensured that everyone co-operated with the civic officials and a sizable chunk of the market area road was freed from encroachments. The residents, as expected, were happy with the development.

Earlier on Wednesday, officials from the civic body’s anti-hawkers team had visited the area to remove illegal hawkers and demolish unauthorised sheds put up by shopkeepers. When officials asked shopkeepers to remove the sheds, one of them – Salim Ahmed Shaikh, called his son and a few associates. The group then got into an altercation with the public servants, during which an official, Rajesh Petkar, was seriously injured. Petkar had to be admitted to the hospital.

Following the civic official’s complaint, Mahatma phule police booked Shaikh and his associates for assaulting a public servant and rioting. Salim was arrested shortly thereafter while the search for his other four associates is currently underway.