Midnight Demolition Drive in Kutubkhana Market: Panic Among Shopkeepers, Anger Over Losses
Firoz khan/up head
Rpt By/Rajesh singh
Bareilly/Kutubkhana — A sudden late-night demolition drive by the municipal corporation created chaos in the Kutubkhana vegetable market on Friday. The enforcement team, accompanied by police and a bulldozer, reached the market around 10:30 PM without prior notice, triggering panic among shopkeepers. Many traders rushed to collect their goods, but several stalls and handcarts were crushed before they could react.
According to eyewitnesses, the team began removing roadside shops and structures terming them illegal encroachments. Within minutes, multiple handcarts, wooden tables, tarpaulin setups, and small stalls were dismantled, creating a scene of noise, confusion, and near-stampede inside the market.
Shopkeepers alleged that despite paying ₹60 daily to the contractor, their establishments were razed without any warning, causing huge financial losses. Several traders claimed that goods worth thousands of rupees were destroyed by the bulldozer. They argued that if a notice had been issued in advance, they would have removed their setups voluntarily.
Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Kumar Maurya stated that illegal encroachments had been increasing in the market for a long time, narrowing the passage and disrupting traffic. He said the drive was necessary to restore smooth movement in the area. The operation was paused due to late-night conditions but will resume the next day.
Meanwhile, the sudden action has sparked strong objections from traders and the market committee. They claim that conducting such a drive at night or without warning was unfair and avoidable. Traders are now preparing for a collective protest and demanding accountability from the administration.
