Jamshedpur: The team from Mango Nagar Nigam had to return empty hands from the eviction drive it had launched.
Sources said officials from the civic body as per prior notice had gone to Munsi Mohallah on Dimna Road area to evict shopkeepers who had encroached on government land.
As soon as they reached the spot, a large number of shopkeepers, mainly those who had occupied government land, started protesting.
Local BJP functionary Vikas Singh sided with the protesters and put up stiff resistance to the eviction work.
Singh said, “The civic body is acting in a partisan manner as there are several places in other parts of Jamshedpur where main roads have been encroached upon but no action is being taken against the shopkeepers.
Only small traders are being targeted.
Proper vending zones should be made in the city and then encroachments should be removed.” The officials were told to go back as the shopkeepers refused to allow them to pull down more than 12 shops constructed illegally.
The owners of the shops said they had been doing business from here for the last 20 years and it is their only means to feed their families.
Mohd Sakil, who runs a bedding store in the area, said, “Officials can’t throw us out without giving a proper alternative arrangement.” Shop owners Kailash Yadav and Santu Pal too echoed similar views.
The shop owners said the civic body should be sympathetic during the pandemic period as businesses have been badly affected due to the lockdown.
Civic body officials refused to comment on the entire episode saying the drive will be resumed later.