Mangaluru: Street vendors lay siege to MCC administrative office; end 24-hour dharna

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 11, 2026: Street vendors protesting for various demands, including unrestricted permission to conduct business at the Sunday Bazaar, laid siege to the office of the Administrator of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) after concluding their 24-hour sit-in protest on Friday.

The protesters, angered by the alleged failure of the MCC Commissioner to visit the protest site and accept their memorandum, marched from the dharna venue near the main gate of the corporation and staged a protest outside the Administrative Officer’s office.

The vendors insisted that they would not leave until the Deputy Commissioner met them. Police officials intervened and persuaded the protesters, informing them that the Deputy Commissioner was unavailable at the district headquarters and assuring them that they would be given an opportunity to meet the Additional Deputy Commissioner instead.

Speaking on the occasion, B.K. Imtiyaz, honorary president of the Dakshina Kannada District Street Vendors’ Association, said that Sunday Bazaar traders had been unable to carry out business for the past month and had suffered heavy losses. He warned that if the civic authorities prevented them from conducting business next Sunday and initiated action against them, the association would launch a ’Jail Bharo’ agitation.

He also demanded that the status quo be maintained until the MCC makes alternative arrangements for the vendors.

Association working president Sunil Kumar Bajal alleged that the Commissioner had been behaving harshly and arrogantly and urged him to function in accordance with the law.

Several leaders and activists, including Yashwanth Maroli, president of the All India Lawyers’ Association; farmers’ leaders Yadav Shetty, Krishnappa Salian and Shekhar Kundar; CITU leaders B.M. Bhat and Yogeesh Jappinamogaru; Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane leader Yogitha Suvarna; and DYFI leaders Santosh Bajal, Tayyub Bengre and Hanif Bengre, along with numerous street vendors, participated in the protest.

Later, acting on the instructions of the Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner K. Raju received the memorandum and heard the grievances of the street vendors. He assured the protesters that their concerns would be brought to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner for necessary action.