Gudangadi, Rasthe Badi Vyaparigala Sangha leader Ivon D’Souza demanded Rs 10 lakh compensation and alternative arrangements for the petty shop owners whose shops were vacated by the district administration.

Speaking at a press meet here on Thursday, he demanded that the Deputy Commissioner must be booked under the Indian Penal Code. 

Five metadors and a tempo which had licenses and which were parked in the State Bank area were totally damaged by two JCBs, which is an offence as per Indian Penal Code  and Motor Act. The MCC is equally responsible for the atrocious act, he criticised.

In fact, requests were made to give licenses to the petty shop owners time and again, which went in vain, though they are sometimes made to pay taxes, he commented. Conducting business is a right to live and the district administration cannot intervene, he said adding that a memorandum stating their demands have been submitted to MLAs and the District in-Charge Minister.

Sangha office-bearers Mohammed Haneef, Manu Raj, Abdul Latheef and Shashi Kanth were present at the press meet.