Location: Janakpuri District Centre, New Delhi
Incident: An MCD “encroachment removal” drive turned chaotic as shopkeepers clashed with officials. Videos show women in tears, shopkeepers shouting in anger, and police struggling to control the situation.
What Happened
According to multiple shopkeepers, MCD officials arrived without any prior notice or slip and started seizing goods from shops.
One furious shopkeeper can be heard shouting:
“???? ????? ?? ??, ????? ??? ?? ??? ??? ????? ????, ??? ????? ?????”
(“They came without notice, took away our goods. No slip, no paperwork, nothing.”)
Another woman vendor, visibly crying, says:
“??? 1600 ?? ??????? ?????? ??… ?? ??? ??? ?? ???? ??? ??????… ?????? ?? ???? ??????”
(“I just bought a cylinder for ?1600… I won’t even earn that much in two days… how will I raise my children?”)
Shopkeepers’ Allegations
- Selective Targeting:
“?????? ?? ?? ???????? ??? ???… ???? ??? ????? ????? ????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ???? ????”
(“There are hawkers all around, but they are never touched. Only shopkeepers are harassed.”) - Corruption:
Many allege that half-way through, seized goods are released for bribes.
“?50,000 ??, ??? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ???? ???? ????”
(“You pay ?50,000, only then they release the goods. They take money midway and let things go.”) - Verbal & Physical Abuse:
A woman claimed she was abused and even hit.
“???? ?? ??, ??? ?? ?????… ???? ?? ??? ???”
(“They hurled abuses and even raised their hands on me… is this right?”)
The Bigger Picture
Shopkeepers insist they are paying commercial rent and taxes, yet their shops are being targeted while hawkers who pay off officials continue operating freely.
One trader angrily remarked:
“?? ????? ?? ?? ??? ???… ?????? ?? ??? ???… ??? ?? ????? ????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?? ????-???? ?????????? ???”
(“We are paying taxes… we are paying rent… yet they take away our goods. This is outright hooliganism.”)
Officials’ Stand
MCD representatives later showed a letter authorizing a “Special Encroachment Removal Plan” in Janakpuri District Centre.
According to officials, they were acting under orders from the Deputy Commissioner. However, the strong resistance from shopkeepers forced the team and police vehicles to retreat.
The Human Cost
For many, this is not just about legality but survival. As one woman summed up with tears:
“??? ??? ??? ?? ???? ?? ?? ?? ??? ??? ???? ??? ?? ?? ??? ??? ????? ??? ?????”
(“If a woman earns, it’s wrong. If she runs a business, it’s wrong. Who should I go to?”)
Conclusion
This incident raises bigger questions about fairness, transparency, and corruption in MCD drives. If the action was legal and justified, why was it done without proper notice and why did officials flee under public resistance?
The people of Janakpuri ask: “For how long will poor shopkeepers be targeted in the name of ‘encroachment’ while real offenders go untouched?”