Suicide bid of evicted hawker

 

COOCH BEHAR, June 22: The demolition drive initiated by Cooch Behar Municipality was continued on its fifth day too. It started on Monday to evict unauthorised hawkers and dismantle illegally constructed portions of shops and buildings. Chairman of the Congress-run civic body, Mr Biren Kundu is personally supervising the drive.

 

Meanwhile, a crestfallen hawker named Shankar Chatterjee (38), a resident of Old Post Office Para, tried to commit suicide by consuming poison at his residence today. He is now under medical treatment at MJN Hospital. Doctors declared him out of danger. His roadside outlet of stationary items in front of Cooch Behar Palace was evicted during the municipality's drive. He said that he had to take up hawking after finding no job or any other alternative. He threatened that he will try again to commit suicide if he was not extended with any rehabilitation.

 

On the otherhand, Trinamul Congress supporters staged a one-hour roadblock at Kachhari Morh today demanding rehabilitation for the evicted poor hawkers. They alleged discriminatory treatment taken by the civic body during the demolition drive. The Trinamul Congress supporters also demonstrated in front of the office of Cooch Behar Sadar SDO today against the civic body's drive.

 

Cooch Behar Municipality sources however said that the eviction drive would continue for some more days in the town. []