Hawkers block train at Mankundu station over alleged harassment by RPF, several detained

An unsettling incident has come to light involving allegations of severe harassment against hawkers on the Howrah-Bardhaman train route, purportedly at the hands of Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel. The claims, which include physical abuse and verbal harassment, have sparked outrage and led to a significant protest by a hawkers' organization. This situation highlights the long-standing tensions between enforcement agencies and the informal economy of train hawkers.

According to a report by the hawkers' organization "Jatiyo Bangla Sammelon," the harassment was particularly brutal. Hawkers, including women, were allegedly abused, beaten, and dragged by RPF officers on a moving train. The organization has also made a serious accusation that the harassment was racially motivated, targeting the hawkers because they were Bengali. These allegations have been met with widespread concern.

In a strong show of protest, the organization blockaded the train at Mankundu station in Hooghly, causing major disruptions to the railway service. The hawkers demanded immediate action against the RPF personnel responsible for the alleged brutality and the release of their colleagues who had been detained. This direct action was a clear message of their frustration and desperation.

The protest was not without cause, as the hawkers claimed that multiple detentions had taken place. They alleged that 15 hawkers were detained in Bally, 16 in Bandel, and 12 were apprehended in Sheoraphuli, where their goods were also confiscated. These actions, they argued, were part of a systematic campaign of harassment rather than a routine enforcement drive. The blockade at Mankundu was eventually lifted, but only after local authorities intervened and promised to release the detained hawkers.