SHILLONG: The women hawkers, who were agitating against the eviction drive being carried out by the officials of Shillong Municipal Board and district administration at Motphran on Wednesday dared the police to shoot them stating that it is better to die than face starvation as they are unable to carry on with their work.
The women numbering around 40 made known to the officials carrying out eviction that their livelihood has been affected by the move of the district administration following the High Court order. As tension mounted a magistrate and police officials were deployed to maintain law and order. According to the hawkers, the sudden decision to carry out eviction has affected them as they have no alternate source of livelihood. Some of them claimed that the district administration is aware that they are operating under the jurisdiction of Hima Mylliem by paying tax for the last several years.