Bengaluru: Petty shops and hotels encroaching the footpaths in Shivajinagar’s Russel Market, were demolished by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), here on Saturday, May 4.
The shop and hotel owners had already been issued a notice well in advance by the BBMP, which they had accepted.
The demolition began at around 8.30 AM under police security.
Led by BBMP special commissioner (Markets) Ravindra, six teams of over 700 staff and over 100 police personnel were involved in this massive clearance drive.
According to sources in the BBMP, this drive was carried out in accordance with the order from the Karnataka High Court. According to the records, only 421 shops are inside the market, however, in reality, there are over 1,000 operating here.
Police had to resort to mild lathi charge in the fish market area to disperse the mob who trying to hinder the clearance drive.
Meanwhile, the shopkeepers have urged the state government to withhold the drive till the end of Ramzan.
