Street vendors lock horn with police over ban on business

Presence of street traders causing unhealthy rush on S.M. Street, say police

An attempt by the police to evacuate wayside traders from S.M. Street drew the ire of a large number of local traders on the second day of relaxed lockdown regulations in Kozhikode city on Monday. Over 100 street traders gathered at the spot and collectively resisted the police move, claiming that the “illogical restrictions” would kill their livelihood. The police argued that the entry of street traders caused an unhealthy rush on the street and interrupted customers’ movement. They also claimed that there was no official order from the government permitting street vending during the pandemic. Meanwhile, representatives of Street Traders Association said only licensed traders were conducting business on S.M. Street, and that they were behind the current fame of the commercial centre. The association leaders accused the police of enforcing “unkind and one-sided rules” to suppress the ailing section.