Petty issues: Fruit vendor’s death lifts lid on illegal business practices

A policeman shot the vendor allegedly because he refused to pay a higher bribe for the spot.

HYDERABAD:

The death of a fruit vendor in Saddar, Hyderabad, has revealed a network of officials who charge bribes from small businessmen in exchange for prime spots in busy markets.

On August 24, Abdul Ghaffar died. There are several theories on what caused the murder: he may have died from a stray bullet, or targeted because he refused to pay a higher bribe to a local policeman, or he was gunned down over price haggling.

For 10 to 12 years, 34-year-old Agro, a native of Mahar Town in Dadu district, worked in Hyderabad. He stayed mostly in Saddar area, where his four-wheeled fruit cart would always be parked on Doctor’s Line Road or outside the police headquarters entrance. On that fateful day, Agro was standing next to his cart, parked very close to the main gate of the police headquarters, when a bullet pierced through his chest. He was proclaimed dead as soon as he reached Civil hospital.

Agro was hit by a bullet from a policeman’s assault rifle.

Initially, it was rumoured that one of the two constables manning the headquarters entrance opened fire during a clash between two policemen. Some even said that an epileptic attack caused involuntary convulsions, which made constable Muhammad Paryal to pull the trigger.

Both these versions were, however, disputed by late Agro’s brother, Ismail, who lodged an FIR at Cantt police station on the same day, accusing Paryal of deliberately killing his brother. “Paryal used to charge excessively from Ghaffar,” Ismail told The Express Tribune. “Lately, my brother was refusing to pay except what was charged from all the cart owners in the Cantt area.”

Even the police investigations, led by DSP Ghazi Khan Almani, led to the same conclusions. “What we found out from witnesses, including the other police constable, is that Paryal haggled over the price of fruits with Ghaffar,” a police official admitted. “The bargaining became heated to the point that Paryal resorted to killing him.” Even though Paryal is in police custody, this report will be submitted in court at the next hearing.

Lucrative business

A fruit vendor, who moves his cart in the same area, said they pay at least Rs100 to the police and Rs50 to the cantonment board officials every day. “Sometimes, we even have to give away fruit for free or at very reduced rates.”

The killing has shaken up the fruit vendors as they are now fearful of the same people who were allowing them to continue their businesses. “There are not enough shops or space to build more shops to cater to the demands for the range of goods sold on carts,” argued Nadeem Khan, who represents the vendors in Tower Market.

For him, any move to uproot this form of encroachment will create a shortage of goods in the city besides leaving thousands of people redundant. Khan does, however, favour restricting these activities to certain markets and disallowing carts from moving or parking them in every other neighbourhood.

Meanwhile, the police are determined to change the way things are done. SSP Fida Hussain Mastoi said removing encroachments is part of his traffic reform agenda that he intends to implement in the coming days. But he does not believe in enforcing the writ by the book.

“I have called a meeting with representatives of traders, markets associations and Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry,” he explained.

“Traffic congestion is a problem for all who live in the city and everyone wants to see this issue addressed.” Mastoi hoped that, with the traders’ help, most of the roads will be cleared of street vendors.

As for the killing, SSP Hussain promised no favours will be granted to the suspected policeman as witnesses have already recorded their statements with the inquiry officer.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2013.