Business Conducted Under the Shadow of Crumbling Balconies; Panic Sparked by Movement of Women's Groups at Night— Traders of Pandara Market Committee Voice Their Grievances
Ranchi: Amidst ongoing enforcement actions regarding alleged encroachments at the Pandara Agricultural Produce Market Committee, traders have come forward to highlight their operational difficulties and security-related concerns. When the *M Bharat 24 News LIVE* team visited the site—ground zero—to speak with the traders, they claimed that the dilapidated state of the market committee's balconies, persistent thefts, the movement of suspicious groups of women during the night, and a prevailing atmosphere of insecurity had compelled them to install temporary sheds, protective grills, and channel gates out of sheer necessity.
Shopkeeper Javed Akhtar (Shop No. 335) stated, "We are willing to pay rent for the structures currently being labeled as encroachments. If everyone else pays rent, we will pay too. Theft is a recurring problem here. Even after installing channel gates, the thefts haven't stopped. Groups of women arrive between 3:00 and 4:00 AM and make off with our merchandise."
The shopkeepers of Shop Nos. 336, 337, and 338 were not present at the site.
Vijay Sahu (Shop No. 339) explained, "The veranda was already open space. We installed grills and channel gates solely for security purposes; nothing new or unauthorized has been constructed here."
Vimal Kumar Sahu (Shop No. 344) remarked, "We had enclosed a section of the veranda to create a small room where our laborers could reside and cook their meals. During the monsoon season, both our laborers and visitors arriving from outside face significant hardships."
Pradeep Kumar (Shop No. 357) stated, "There are no longer any encroachments here. The wall that had been constructed previously has been dismantled. The veranda is now open, and the temporary room built for the laborers has also been removed."
According to local residents, Shop No. 370—originally owned by Bigan Sahu—has now been leased out to another individual.
Vashishth Singh (Shop No. 371) said, "The balconies are crumbling and falling apart." "A temporary shelter has been erected to provide protection against rain and sun. Gambling and alcohol consumption continue here throughout the night. The area has turned into a den for alcoholics, yet the local police station takes no action. At night, groups of women arrive and steal merchandise. If anyone objects, they are threatened with false and serious accusations."
Gopal Sahu (Shop No. 372) stated, "Bamboo and plastic sheeting have been installed to prevent accidents. Previously, a cornice collapsed and struck a customer on the head; consequently, we were compelled to implement these protective measures."
Rahul Kumar (Shop No. 373) explained, "The shelter has been put up to shield us from the sun and rain. Since the cornices are prone to breaking and falling, these measures are essential for safety."
Meanwhile, Sohan Lal Sharma (Shop No. 374) remarked, "This is an entirely temporary arrangement. Plywood and a shelter have been installed because the cornices frequently break and fall. We are ready to remove these structures immediately if the Market Committee carries out the necessary repairs."
The traders assert that they were forced to make their own arrangements due to the dilapidated condition of the market complex and the lack of adequate security measures provided by the Market Committee. Now, however, action is being initiated against them—labeling these very arrangements as encroachments—which is fueling growing resentment among the traders. The traders have demanded that concrete steps be taken first to repair the market infrastructure, bolster security, and curb antisocial activities; only after these issues have been addressed should any punitive action be contemplated.
