Kochi: An hour and a half of fear passed in front of the ‘Uppum Mulukum’ shop in Panampally Nagar, Ernakulam. Concern was created when two youths, who are the operators of the shop, threatened to commit suicide by pouring petrol all over their bodies in front of the corporation, health and police officials who came to remove the illegal thatch shop. They also had cans filled with petrol in their hands. As a small spark could have created a huge danger, more than twenty policemen who rushed to control the gathered crowd struggled.
The incidents started at 6 pm on Thursday. Officials informed that the person who has been given a license by the corporation to run that shop here is not there and the shop will be taken away in a corporation vehicle. With this, the youths stopped the food items and the people who came to eat and threatened that ‘if they try to take the shop, they will burn it’. Habib Rahman from Malappuram Nilambur Karuwarakundu and Sinsar from Kalikav who claimed to be relatives of the licensee made the suicide threat.
After completing his graduation from the Maharaja of Ernakulam, Habib studied hotel management and started running the shop. Even though they told the officials and the police that they were doing it because they had no other way to live, they did not relent. After the duo poured petrol on their bodies, the officers called for more police and remained firm in their decision to take over the shop. Ernakulam South CI Faisal, who reached the spot, tried to negotiate reconciliation, but in the first phase, there was no result.
There were no major problems as the police reached the spot with the assurance of non-use of force. After several attempts to resolve the problem by talking, Habib refused to give in and had to give an assurance that he would not take over the shop. Police and more people gathered at the place as slogans of ‘Police goback’ were also raised. Meanwhile, with the help of some others who were with them, the situation of conflict was partially defused when the petrol cans were seized from the hands of the youths and taken away.
Ernakulam City Deputy Commissioner V.U. Kuriakos arrived at the scene. The problems eased after the shop was allowed to continue for the time being and those who poured petrol were instructed not to stop and serve food at the shop today.
In the meantime, Shraddha turned towards the shop when the woman running the shop came to Kadavantra crying to return the shop that had been taken away. They returned with the assurance of the officials that if they come with the permission letter the next day.
The youth who threatened to commit suicide said that he was standing in the shop because his father’s brother, who is a licensee, had gone to the country due to his wife’s delivery. They also ask how the person in the hospital can be here. Those who say that they should do business only in the allotted space of 25 square feet allege that they did not question the fact that the nearby big supermarkets and hotels are brought down to the road and do business with sheets because they took bribes from them.
Officials are of the view that shops that do not comply with the norms prescribed by the corporation for roadside trade are taken. They say that the action is following the order of the High Court. Krishnakumar, an official of the health department, said that in the event that it was decided not to take the shop for the time being, a report would be submitted to the High Court explaining the matter. According to the law, only the licensee or their close relatives are allowed to run the shop. He said that the action was taken because even distant relatives were not allowed.
Some people in the area have come forward with the demand that the thatch shops operating without permission should be vacated. At the same time, the reaction of another person who came to the place was that he was trying to vacate the shop after telling the officials that he was going to start a hotel next door. They say that if they pay 100 rupees, the common people can rely only on thutkada to eat their stomach full with taste.
English Summary: Removal of illegal Food court: Two youths threatened to commit suicide