PONDA: Ponda market vendors observed a market bandh and resumed their protests outside the Ponda police station even as their leader was released on bail.
They have been protesting since yesterday for the release of their leader Garu Sawant, who was arrested for his alleged involvement in a scuffle with footpath vendors.
When asked about his arrest, Sawant informed that several market vendors had taken to the streets to forcibly remove footpath vendors. One footpath vendor had abused a few female market vendors and tried to hit them with a stone, following which the women thrashed the vendor. He added, “I was not involved in any manhandling, but he mentioned my name in his complaint to Ponda police, based on which they arrested me. It is unfair.”
Sawant further stated that the market vendors would continue their agitation against footpath vending in Ponda. He said, “The Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) is creating a mess and parking problems by auctioning the open market (footpaths) sopo collection separately. It is encouraging footpath vending. There is no space near the market for people to park their vehicles.”
He continued, “While the chief officer is doing a good job of clearing the footpaths, PMC is doing the opposite by encouraging footpath vending. Ponda residents are suffering due to lack of parking space, while the market vendors’ business is affected by footpath vendors. Hence, we will continue our agitation against the PMC’s decision to allow footpath vending.
Meanwhile, Ponda PI Sudesh Naik informed that the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) released Sawant on a bond of Rs 10,000.
Incidentally, this is the second market bandh in less than a month. On August 12, Ponda market vendors called for a bandh to protest the Ponda Municipal Council’s decision to auction the sopo collection contract.
