Kolkata, 08 June (H.S.) :

The ongoing eviction drive by the railways at Jadavpur Railway Station has escalated into a legal battle, with hawkers approaching the Calcutta High Court against the anti-encroachment operation.

According to legal representatives of the hawkers, the matter was mentioned before Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, seeking permission to file the petition, which was granted. Given the urgency of the issue, the case is likely to be heard on Tuesday.

The eviction drive, conducted by railway authorities with heavy police and central security force deployment, was carried out late Sunday night. Officials dismantled stalls, shops, and alleged illegal constructions built on railway land around the station premises.

This follows similar large-scale anti-encroachment operations at other major railway stations, including Dum Dum and Sealdah, where illegal structures were previously demolished.

The latest action in Jadavpur triggered strong resistance from local hawkers and political workers. Members of parties such as the CPI(M) and Congress reportedly joined protests against the drive, with demonstrators attempting to block bulldozers during the operation.

During the confrontation, several protesters, including Left student leader Srijan Bhattacharyya, were detained by police on charges of obstructing official duties. Authorities also resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd, leaving at least 15 people injured, according to reports.

Following the incident, the area remains under heavy police deployment, with security agencies maintaining a high alert amid continuing tensions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh