The police on Thursday served notices to several fruitsellers under the CrPC and warned them that they would be held equally responsible if something goes wrong at Mumbai Bagh.
Said a fruit seller on conditions of anonimity, that he was served notice under Section 149 (police to prevent cognisable offences) of Code Of Criminal Procedure on Thursday for selling bananas to one of the visitors who wanted to distribute the fruit among protesters on Sunday. He fears that he may face police action after the protest is over.
Most of the vendors who had been distributing food and water to the Mumbai Bagh demonstrators have stopped coming fearing police crackdown, protesters fear. The police’s intimidation tactic seems to be working even as the number of the demonstrators has come down to 60 per cent now.
The police are not only serving notices to the protesters and the vendors, but also to those who have extended their support to the Mumbai Bagh women. “Notices are being given randomly to those who came there to express solidarity with the protesters,” said an advocate who has been approached by a few protesters for legal help.
