STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Dispur police, on Saturday, arrested a person in the case of mob attack on GMC (Guwahati Municipal Corporation) personnel near the 'Down Town' area the previous night. The arrested person is Nur Mohammed. He hails from Sarthebari in Barpeta district, and deals in broiler chicken in the city.
GMC sources informed that the GMC staffers including its police personnel were carrying out field visit there to ensure closure of marketplaces and other such trade activities by 6 pm as per the order of ASDMA (Assam State Disaster Management Authority) dated April 20, 2021.
The Enforcement Branch team of GMC led by a DEO (Deputy Enforcement Officer) also comprised four MCP (Municipal Corporation Police) personnel.
During the routine visit in the area at around 6:30 pm, the team saw that approximately 40 street vendors were selling fruits and vegetables without maintaining the COVID-19 protocols. Besides, they were also illegally encroaching the foothpath thereby causing inconvenience to pedestrians.
The GMC personnel first told the vendors to evacuate the place. They were also informed that they must follow the COVID-19 guidelines and wear face masks besides maintaining social distancing.
However, the vendors reportedly violently retaliated to these warning and started pelting stones at the GMC personnel resulting in the injury of two GMC employees.
The GMC personnel lodged two FIRs (First Information Reports) at the Dispur Police Station on April 30 and also also on May 1. A case (1652/21 u/s 188/294a/341/353/352/269/270/506/34 IPC r/w section 51b of SDMA) has been registered in this regard, added the sources.