Angry fruit and vegetable traders clashed with the police here on Monday after refusing to shift their businesses from Kot Lakhpat's Sabzi Mandi to the outskirt of the city. The traders were advised by the local administration to move their trucks, loaded with vegetables and fruits, to a new sabzi mandi in Kahna, but they refused to do so. They insisted on unloading their products in the Kot Lakhpat Sabzi Mandi.
The rioting started when police and local administration stopped their trucks from entering Kot Lakhpat Sabzi Mandi. The traders pelted stones at the police and shouted anti-government slogans. In response, the police used tear gas and aerial firing to disperse the protestors. A government truck was also burnt by the protestors and they blocked traffic on the busy Ferozepur Road. Many people were injured in the clash and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The traders complained that it is not possible or feasible for them to shift their businesses overnight; they needed ample time to do so. It may be recalled that the City District Government Lahore had decided to shift the existing sabzi mandi in Kot Lakhpat to the outskirts of the city in Kahna. In this connection, the local government set up a new vegetable market at the cost of Rs 550 million.
Meanwhile, at a press conference regarding the incident, DCO Lahore Ahad Cheema said miscreants involved in the violent protest will not be pardoned. He disclosed that more than 100 cases have been registered against the miscreants and they will be treated in accordance with the law.
He told the newsmen that they took the decision of shifting the sabzi mandi from Kot Lakhpat to Kahna after taking the traders into confidence. He said in the inauguration ceremony of the new sabzi mandi (held on July 10), the fruit and vegetable traders were intimated that from July 11 the sabzi mandi in Kot Lakhpat will be closed on permanent basis. "Thus, after agreeing with the decision, the traders have no justification to protest," he added.
On the occasion, Commissioner Lahore Jawad Rafique Malik told the media that the area of existing sabzi mandi was small and lacked adequate infrastructure, which created problems for the local inhabitants. "In comparison to the Kot Lakhpat's Sabzi Mandi, spread over 100 kanals, the new sabzi mandi is built on 1045 kanals of land at a cost of Rs 550 million," he added.
The leaders of Anjuman Tajran Kot Lakhpat were also present on the occasion and they denied their involvement in the violent clash. They said 'bhatta' mafia and money-lenders are behind the unfortunate incident. They disclosed that all matters (regarding shifting of the market) were resolved amicably in consultation with the district government. "The relocation of the market was done on our request," they added.