Rajkot: One may have heard of traders’ agitations breaking out over the issues of fixing the falling prices of their produce and other such demands, but to take to the street over the issue of mosquito menace is quite unheard of.
Such was a scene on Rajkot-Morbi Highway, where an unresolved problem of mosquitoes drove traders of Rajkot new market yard to resort to stone pelting when cops tried to stop their stir on Monday. About 30 protesters were detained for rioting and preventing the police from performing their duty.
On Monday afternoon, about 50 traders staged a chakka jam (road block) on Rajkot-Morbi Highway and burnt tyres. “When we tried to disperse the protesters, they pelted stones at us, in which five cops received injuries,” said M C Vala, inspector with Kuwadawa Road police station.
“We have been suffering from the mosquito menace for the past five years. Hydrilla and water hyacinth in the still water of a stream that eventually flows into Aji River has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The dirty water from gutters in Rajkot is released into this stream on daily basis, spawning mosquitoes,” said Atul Kamani, president of commission agents’ association associated with the new market yard.
Kamani said that after several representations before Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) failed, they were left with no option, but to take action. “We had called for a one-day strike at the market yard on Monday as a mark of protest. As part of the protest we blocked Rajkot-Morbi Highway, which invited the police’s action,” he said.
“We had written to the RMC to take a cue from Surat Municipal Corporation and make use of weeder machines to weed out hydrilla and water hyacinth. But our request fell on the deaf ears of the RMC officials,” said one of the agitating traders.
Those cops injured in the stone pelting were identified as crime branch sub-inspector P M Dhakhda, crime branch head constable Mayur Patel and crime branch constables — Jayantibhai and Jagmalbhai.
Such was a scene on Rajkot-Morbi Highway, where an unresolved problem of mosquitoes drove traders of Rajkot new market yard to resort to stone pelting when cops tried to stop their stir on Monday. About 30 protesters were detained for rioting and preventing the police from performing their duty.
On Monday afternoon, about 50 traders staged a chakka jam (road block) on Rajkot-Morbi Highway and burnt tyres. “When we tried to disperse the protesters, they pelted stones at us, in which five cops received injuries,” said M C Vala, inspector with Kuwadawa Road police station.
“We have been suffering from the mosquito menace for the past five years. Hydrilla and water hyacinth in the still water of a stream that eventually flows into Aji River has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The dirty water from gutters in Rajkot is released into this stream on daily basis, spawning mosquitoes,” said Atul Kamani, president of commission agents’ association associated with the new market yard.
Kamani said that after several representations before Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) failed, they were left with no option, but to take action. “We had called for a one-day strike at the market yard on Monday as a mark of protest. As part of the protest we blocked Rajkot-Morbi Highway, which invited the police’s action,” he said.
“We had written to the RMC to take a cue from Surat Municipal Corporation and make use of weeder machines to weed out hydrilla and water hyacinth. But our request fell on the deaf ears of the RMC officials,” said one of the agitating traders.
Those cops injured in the stone pelting were identified as crime branch sub-inspector P M Dhakhda, crime branch head constable Mayur Patel and crime branch constables — Jayantibhai and Jagmalbhai.
Trending Topics
LATEST VIDEOS
More from TOI
Navbharat Times
Featured Today in Travel
Get the app