Calcutta, Jan. 10 :    Calcutta, Jan. 10:  In a bid to stop spiralling crime on platforms, the Railways have decided to evict hawkers from Sealdah and Howrah stations. At a recent meeting with police officers, the authorities submitted documents revealing police involvement in all sorts of crime on the platforms. Railway officers say most hawkers on the platforms are actually criminals or protected by them. On Thursday, Arvind Sharma, Eastern Railway general manager, said he was determined to get rid of the anti-socials from the stations. According to sources, the nexus between the police and the criminals in allotting space on platforms, too, has been revealed. A railway officer showed documents, seized from the criminals and hawkers during raids at the two stations, which revealed that the latter had paid Rs 30,000 as protection money for a period of four months. In Sealdah, a criminal would have to shell out Rs 45,000 to the police to 'operate on the premises.' 'These policemen have divided Howrah station into two zones, while Sealdah station has been handed over to one gangster,'' the officer said. The railway authorities said there are 700 illegal hawkers at Sealdah station, and nearly 1,000 at Howrah. The gangsters, who allot spaces to the hawkers, collect a daily cut of Rs 10 from everyone. The authorities also showcased instances where space inside both the stations were 'sold'' to criminals, who turn it into a den of vice at night. 'They run a thriving racket after the last trains have departed. The police know about this but have not taken any action,'' an officer said. Railway officers said there have been 65 incidents of snatching and robbery in Howrah and Sealdah stations in the past four months, compared with just 33 in the five months before. The police assured the railway authorities of their support in cracking down on the dens of vice at the two stations. Director-general of police D.C. Vajpai told Metro that his department would co-operate with the railway officials. 'We will look into the allegations,'' he said.