BMC to hose down demolished hawker zone on Monday……AKELA
New police beat chowkey to come up in place of illegal shops that were demolished on Friday
Come Monday, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will clean up (literally) Mumbai’s grimy underbelly by hosing down the recently demolished hawker zone in Musafirkhana’s Gulshan-E-Iran hotel lane. A fleet of water tankers have been lined-up to wash the illegal hawking zone in Crawford Market. At least 500 illegal cloth retailers in this area have been allegedly bribing local politicians and the underworld with Rs 60 lakh a month, according to sources.
The bribe or hafta in turn allegedly drives the underworld businesses. On Friday, BMC pulled off the near- impossible by demolishing the illegal set-up with massive police protection during the drive. The area is already buzzing with policemen and it is likely that a new police beat chowkey will come up in the area.
Court ruling
“The honorable Supreme Court has declared this area as no-hawking zone. On Friday, BMC demolished shops for the fifth time. We provided necessary protection,” said Sanjeev Kokil, senior inspector MRA Marg police station.
“The honorable Supreme Court has declared this area as no-hawking zone. On Friday, BMC demolished shops for the fifth time. We provided necessary protection,” said Sanjeev Kokil, senior inspector MRA Marg police station.
“A present minister, two present MLAs, a former MLA, a former minister, and two other politicians (all allegedly belonging to the Congress) have been protecting these shops for a long time,” said a BMC officer, on condition of anonymity. The officer also provided Sunday MiD DAY with a list of these names.
Behind the illegal activities
Sources said Farid Shaikh alias Letas, Mohammad Hussain alias Raju KK, Irfan Chikana, Hanif Dadhi, Gaffar, Maqbool, Babu Chhapari and Gurda have all been protecting the illegal hawkers. Some of them also own shops. Police arrested two of the accused on Friday. All of them have a record for illegal activities, and two of them run an illegal betting racket in Pydhonie.
Sources said Farid Shaikh alias Letas, Mohammad Hussain alias Raju KK, Irfan Chikana, Hanif Dadhi, Gaffar, Maqbool, Babu Chhapari and Gurda have all been protecting the illegal hawkers. Some of them also own shops. Police arrested two of the accused on Friday. All of them have a record for illegal activities, and two of them run an illegal betting racket in Pydhonie.
* The Gulshan-E-Iran hotel lane which has been declared a no-hawking zone is where illegal shops were razed. PIC/SATYAJIT DESAI