The Ajmer Municipal Corporation's ambitious encroachment removal drive faced fierce resistance from local traders on Saturday, leading to its temporary suspension after widespread protests erupted across multiple historic markets. The civic body's action targeted unauthorized structures in the sensitive areas surrounding the famous dargah, sparking immediate backlash from business owners during one of their most profitable seasons.
Massive Security Deployment for Market Clearance
A substantial force of more than 100 police personnel accompanied the AMC team as they moved through Adhai Din ka Jhopra, Ander Kot, Dargah Bazaar and Nallah Bazaar areas. The corporation had deployed JCB machines and laborers to clear encroachments from drains and public pathways, seizing goods that shopkeepers had placed outside their establishments.
Officials defended the drive as essential preparation for the upcoming 814th Urs celebration, emphasizing the need to ensure smooth traffic movement for the thousands of devotees expected to visit the dargah. The operation caused significant traffic disruptions, with police diverting devotees heading toward the sacred site as congestion mounted throughout the area.
Traders' Fury Over Business Disruption
The clearance operation ignited immediate anger among the trading community, who accused the municipal corporation of deliberately targeting them during their peak business period. Tensions reached a boiling point when the team entered Nallah Bazaar, prompting shopkeepers to shut down the entire market in protest against what they termed as unnecessary harassment.
Mahendra Bansal, president of the Ajmer Vyaparik Mahasangh, voiced the traders' frustration strongly. "They are creating unnecessary problems at a time when business is at its peak. If this continues, we will call an Ajmer bandh," he warned, indicating the possibility of a complete city-wide shutdown if the drive resumes.
Adding to the criticism, general secretary Ramesh Lalwani alleged that the AMC was already collecting user charges forcibly and now compounding traders' troubles with the sudden encroachment removal drive.
Temporary Withdrawal After Emergency Talks
Following intense negotiations with market representatives, AMC officials made the strategic decision to withdraw the drive temporarily. The corporation acknowledged the sensitivity of timing but maintained that the action was necessary, citing that shopkeepers frequently rebuild encroachments even over drainage lines despite annual removal efforts.
Police authorities confirmed that mild force had to be used at certain locations when crowds swelled beyond control, though the situation was managed without any major incidents. The corporation officials clarified that the drive would continue in phases, though the timeline for resumption remains uncertain following the strong opposition from the business community.
The standoff highlights the ongoing challenge municipal authorities face in balancing urban planning requirements with the economic concerns of local traders, particularly in heritage areas surrounding significant religious sites during important festivals and events.
