Hawkers, political leaders held for defying court orders

Kolhapur, June 17 (UNI) Around 150 people, mainly hawkers, leaders of the hawkers' unions and political leaders, were arrested today for trying to hold weekly market in defiance of a court order.

Prominent political leaders from Kolhapur, who are supporting the hawkers' cause, were also arrested. Among them were CPI senior leaders Govind Pansare and Dileep Pawar, NCP city chief R K Powar, Shiv Sena district chief Rambhau Chavan, and BJP district chief Vijay Desai.

The Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) had recently removed hawkers from the busy ''Lugadee Lane'' mutton market here to ease congestion.

The hawkers had opposed the move and had launched an agitation.

Meanwhile, few citizens too had moved the court urging that the hawkers be restrained from doing business on the busy lane. The court had upheld their plea.

Notwithstanding the court order, the hawkers commenced business on the busy lane following which the police cracked down on them and arrested 150 hawkers and the leaders.

UNI