Police crackdown in Howrah; Lathi charge to clear Mangla Hat encroachments

The perennially crowded streets of Howrah’s Mangla Hat witnessed high drama on Monday as local police launched a massive eviction drive to clear unauthorised encroachments from roads and footpaths. Traditionally a weekly market, Mangla Hat has recently expanded its operations to three days a week, leading to severe congestion that leaves virtually no room for pedestrians or vehicular traffic. Following state government directives that strictly prohibit the occupation of public thoroughfares, the police moved in early Monday morning to reclaim the space.

The crackdown follows a tense Sunday where authorities actively prevented traders from setting up their stalls. Despite continuous announcements via loudspeakers throughout the previous day warning vendors to stay away, a large group of traders gathered again on Monday morning. The situation quickly escalated into a protest as vendors demanded their right to do business, claiming the market's expansion was necessary for their livelihoods. However, the police maintained that the obstruction of public roads could no longer be tolerated.

As the crowd of protesting traders grew and refused to disperse, the police were forced to resort to a lathi charge to clear the area. Chaos ensued as officers used force to push the vendors off the main roads and clear the footpaths. The intervention aimed to restore order to a transit corridor that has long been plagued by gridlock due to the ever-expanding footprint of the market. Authorities have signalled that these enforcement drives will continue until the government’s "no-encroachment" policy is fully realised.