In the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, a video has surfaced capturing the desperate attempt of a vegetable vendor to save his livelihood as officials ruthlessly crushed his cart with a JCB (construction vehicle). The incident occurred during the district administration’s efforts to eradicate ‘illegal encroachments’ and make the city ‘encroachment-free’.
The footage depicts the vendor, whose only means of income was his vegetable cart, frantically pleading with officials to spare his livelihood. Despite constant appeals, the officials remained unmoved, forcing the vendor to take a last-ditch effort to save his cart by climbing onto the machine.
The vendor’s efforts proved futile as he helplessly witnessed his cart being crushed, scattering vegetables across the road. In the video, the vendor is heard saying, “Mujhe bhi maar (Crush me too),”
In the anti-encroachment initiative led by the district administration, a JCB machine, tasked with clearing public spaces, collided with a vegetable vendor’s cart as he attempted to safeguard his belongings, destroying the cart.
Onlookers in a circulating video were observed engaging in heated discussions with the team, expressing disapproval of their actions towards the economically disadvantaged vendor.
Despite the incident gaining traction on social media, the administration has yet to issue an official statement. Locals organized a protest in opposition to the administration’s actions following the widespread dissemination of the video.
