Hawkers challenge Jadavpur bulldozer action, approach High Court

Hawkers and shopkeepers affected by the eviction drive near Jadavpur Railway Station have approached the Calcutta High Court challenging the demolition of shops and structures and alleging that the operation was carried out without any rehabilitation or relocation arrangements. The matter was mentioned on Monday before the bench of Justice Hiranmoy Bhattacharyya, who directed that the case would be heard on Tuesday after taking note of submissions regarding the urgency of the situation.

Appearing for the petitioners, advocate Shamim Ahmed informed the court that a petition had already been filed before the special summer vacation bench but had not yet been taken up for hearing. He submitted that several shops had been demolished during the eviction operation on Sunday evening, making immediate judicial intervention necessary. The court subsequently allowed the matter to proceed for hearing according to its schedule.

The eviction drive near Jadavpur Railway Station triggered widespread protests on Sunday evening as local residents, Left parties, Congress leaders, students and youth activists attempted to resist the demolition operation. According to allegations made by protesters, police carried out a lathi-charge to disperse demonstrators. Reports indicated that around 15 people were injured during the clashes, while a substantial police deployment remained in place across the area following the unrest.

Among those detained during the protests was Srijan Bhattacharyya. The eviction campaign forms part of a broader anti-encroachment initiative, which has faced opposition from several Left-backed organisations, student groups and youth organisations. Following the clashes, demonstrations were organised outside Jadavpur University on Monday, and the Students' Federation of India announced day-long protest programmes over the incident.

On Monday morning, the area around Jadavpur Railway Station continued to show the remains of demolished shops and structures. Several traders and hawkers were seen near the debris, stating that no alternative rehabilitation arrangements had been provided before the demolition. The situation remained tense, with police maintaining a strong presence in the area while authorities monitored developments related to the eviction drive and the legal challenge before the High Court.