Clashes in Indore following anti-hawking drive

Indore (Bhopal) June 10 (ANI): Violence marred Indore as illegal hawkers and shopkeepers clashed with police during an eviction drive on Tuesday.

Violence broke out when the civic authorities reached the Etwaria market to drive away the illegal hawkers and shopkeepers.

Officials said the hawkers did not heed the warning issued by the district officials, which led to the outbreak of violence.

"The SDM (sub-divisional magistrate) warned them (hawkers) thrice to leave the place but the moment the warning was sent out, the hawkers started pelting stones on us and they (policemen) got injured in the process.

Even the women were hitting us with stones and we were trying to control them. But still many women pelted stones on the officials," said Inspector Rakesh Vyas, station house officer of the local police station.

Police baton charged the protesting shopkeepers to bring the situation under control.

The police arrested a few traders and hawkers and further investigations are continuing. (ANI)