Mumbai:
Clashes between local bullies and activists of an NGO, Lokadhikar, broke out on Tuesday night as the latter demolished 350 illegal stalls from Juhu chowpatty in Mumbai around 10.30 pm. The local bullies had allegedly built these stalls and would collect a
hafta (extortion money) of Rs 750 per stall per week from those who were running them.
Three activists, including a woman, were injured in the clashes. The activists -- Rambha Singh Rane (52), Shiva Jadhav (28) and Ajay Mehta (22), were taken to Cooper Hospital for treatment.
Around 40 activists thronged the Santa Cruz police station to lodge a complaint, but alleged that the FIR was registered only by 2:00 am. The police arrested one of the local bullies, Vellu alias Tambi. Anil Nayar, an activist, said, "We have been getting threats from these bullies regularly. But this is just the trailer. More will follow."