Shillong, June 30: In a sweeping enforcement drive, authorities from the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB), backed by police personnel, launched simultaneous crackdowns at Police Bazar and Khyndailad on Monday, targeting unlicensed street vendors occupying public footpaths and commercial zones.

The operations, aimed at decongesting two of Shillong’s busiest areas, led to the eviction of dozens of vendors and the seizure of their goods. Officials cited persistent violations of municipal regulations and the vendors’ failure to obtain valid permits as reasons for the action.

“We have repeatedly asked vendors to obtain valid permits. Those who continue to operate without them cannot be allowed to encroach upon public walkways,” said an official present during the Police Bazar operation.

Clashes at Khyndailad
Tensions flared in Khyndailad as members of the Street Vendors’ Association resisted the eviction drive. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as vendors confronted police and municipal officials, who arrived with bulletproof vehicles and fire tenders to enforce the order. One municipal truck was seen carting away goods from the street.

Authorities stated the move was part of a broader initiative to improve hygiene and public safety. However, vendors accused the government of acting arbitrarily and in violation of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, claiming they were being displaced without due process.

“We are not illegal. We’ve been waiting for the Digital Survey by the Provisional Town Vending Committee (PTVC), which has not yet been conducted. Yet now we’re being thrown out,” said a representative of the association.

The vendors also alleged that new vending zones—such as those inside the MUDA parking lot and opposite the SBI branch—were designated unilaterally, without consultation with the PTVC, calling it a breach of the agreed procedures.

Outcry at Police Bazar
At Police Bazar, long-time footpath vendors expressed dismay over the evictions, claiming they had been operating for over a decade and had regularly paid rent to local landlords, committees, or intermediaries.

“We’ve been here for years and have been paying rent consistently. If we were illegal, why didn’t the authorities act earlier?” said one frustrated shop owner.

The crackdown sparked heated confrontations, particularly involving women vendors who refused to vacate their spaces. The scene attracted large crowds and caused temporary disruption in the heart of the city.

Call for Fairness and Clarity
While some citizens and business owners praised the move as necessary to restore order and ease pedestrian movement, others criticized the lack of clarity, communication, and sensitivity in the approach.

Vendors have called for the immediate implementation of the long-pending Digital Survey and demanded proper licensing, rehabilitation, and transparency in the allocation of vending zones.

Authorities have stated that all seized goods will be returned once proper documentation is presented and relevant fines are paid.