Saturday, 24 September 2022 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Local shopkeepers will stage a protest against illegal shops and stalls being set up in Paltan Bazaar area claiming such setups are the cause of rise in crimes like pickpocketing, theft and eve teasing in the area. According to them, people facilitating such illegal vends do not pay any kind of taxes to the government while probably earning lakhs of rupees every day whereas a normal shopkeeper in Paltan Bazaar provides employment to many and pays tax. The shopkeepers said that many have bought shops through loans and many pay considerable rent to run their shops in Paltan Bazaar but illegal activity is severely affecting the business of the shopkeepers. The president of Doon Valley Mahanagar Udyog Vyapar Mandal (DVMUVM) said that such illegal shops and stalls are not just affecting the business but also harming the sanctity of Paltan Bazaar which is visited by thousands of people every day. He said, “Crimes like eve teasing, pickpocketing, theft and chain snatching have increased significantly in the marketplace. People are becoming apprehensive of coming to Paltan Bazaar which has always been among the most visited places of the city.” Masson said that the people setting up these illegal shops possibly belong to Uttar Pradesh and even the authorities have failed to stop them despite their multiple attempts in the past few months. “The district administration had shut all such illicit shops and markets being operated here on May 27 after our appeal for action. However such shops and stalls have started operating again from this month but the authorities are yet to take any action against them. It has once again started affecting our business and law and order in the area considering which, all local shopkeepers will stage a protest on Saturday.”
