A hawkers' delegation also met `A' ward officer Rajendrakumar Vale to discuss problems of hawkers in the area. However, there were no untoward incidents.

General secretary of the hawkers union, Suresh Kapile, said one of their main complaints was displacement of hawkers from GPO, CTO, Share Bazar, Churchgate Khau Galli, the Gateway of India and Horniman Circle. He said a hawkers rally would be held on June 15 from August Kranti Maidan to Mantralaya to protest the ``high-handedness of the authorities.''

He alleged that along with BMC, traffic police had used force to displace hawkers from various areas. Five hawkers from Horniman Circle, he charged, and four from Malad station had been beaten up by traffic police.

When contacted, ward officer Vale said the BMC has gone strictly by the book and followed court orders whileevicting hawkers from `A' ward.