Municipality Head Highlights Rise of Unlawful Hawking Areas Managed by Outsiders Near Borders
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Kolkata, Dec 30 (NationPress) The Chairman of a municipality in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas, located close to the Bangladesh border, has raised alarms with the police regarding the rapid emergence of illegal hawking centers in the vicinity, operated by outsiders who are vending winter apparel and blankets.
In correspondence addressed to the inspector in charge of Bangaon Police Station, Bongaon Municipality Chairman Gopal Seth noted that there has been a noticeable increase in hawkers establishing shops and stalls along several key roads and highways within the municipality’s domain.
“These individuals are likely arriving from Kashmir or other states. The municipality has no records of their backgrounds. Given that Bongaon Municipality borders the Indo-Bangladesh international boundary, it is crucial to gather information about these individuals for the sake of public safety,” the letter stated, with a copy available to IANS.
Seth has also sent copies of this letter to the sub-divisional officer and the sub-divisional police officer of Bangaon.
In his correspondence, he emphasized the importance of the police obtaining details on whether these individuals are genuine traders or if they have ulterior motives for entering this sensitive border region under the guise of garment vendors.
Seth recalled past incidents where terrorists have posed as traders, jeopardizing the safety of ordinary citizens.
“Moreover, they are coming here and renting residences in various parts of the municipality, without the respective landlords notifying the police,” the letter continued.
Under these circumstances, Seth argued that for the safety of the community, it is imperative for the police to conduct a thorough investigation to determine whether these individuals are truly traders or if they have come to Bongaon with malicious intent disguised as merchants.
Recently, intelligence and security agencies have heightened security and surveillance in villages adjacent to the Bangladesh border, both land and coastal, due to reports of numerous outsiders suddenly settling in these border villages after renting accommodations.
The police have cautioned landlords in these villages to avoid renting to outsiders without verifying their credentials and to report to local police stations about the individuals they are renting to.
