Mangaluru: Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) Sunday continued its ‘Operation Tiger’ against Sunday Bazaar vendors near Kudmul Ranga Rao Town Hall.When vendors tried to set up stalls, MCC launched a drive to clear illegal footpath vending. The vendors objected and confronted officials, arguing that there was sufficient space for pedestrians. As the operation continued, they staged a protest, blocked the road, and shouted slogans.Addressing the protest, BK Imthiyaz, honorary president of the Dakshina Kannada District Street Vendors’ Association (CITU), said that the MCC has been adopting a stubborn stance and seems to think that suppressing the poor is a major achievement. He added that it is surprising that drives are being conducted without implementing the street vendors’ protection laws.CITU district general secretary Sunil Kumar Bajal said that the corporation officials are behaving inhumanely, showing no basic courtesy toward the poor while seizing their goods. He demanded that the district administration intervene and resolve the issue.The city corporation had conducted similar drives to evict illegal footpath vendors near the town hall, State Bank, and nearby areas over the past two Sundays. Street vendors who were evicted had met DC Darshan HV Friday, urging him to protect their right to livelihood and provide alternative arrangements.MCC officials said that health officers, supervisors, and Mangaluru city police took part in the operation to clear encroachments from Rao & Rao Circle to Clock Tower.
