Sambalpur, May 8: Irate vendors today surrounded the office the deputy inspector-general of police (DIG), northern range, to protest against the decision of the district police to prohibit roadside vendors from running their business along the busy Golebazar-Laxmi Talkies Road.

The district police had last month prohibited the vendors from operating on the street to “ensure smooth traffic and security on the road”. This decision caused resentment among the vendors. Hundreds of them, under the aegis of Sambalpur Utha Dokani Sangha, surrounded the DIG’s office. “These vendors had been evicted two years ago. There was a tripartite meeting to resolve their problems. It was decided that they would be rehabilitated at a vending zone. The municipality and revenue department were entrusted with identifying places for the zone. Places had also been identified,” said Satish Bishi, president of the sangha.

Bisi said it was also agreed to allow the vendors to operate from the street until they had been allotted shops at the vending zone. However, although the vendors are yet to be allotted spots at the zone, cops are not allowing them to run their business on the Golebazar-Laxmi Talkies Road.

“Around 56 vendors have been affected by this decision and have lost their source of income now,” said Bishi.

Representatives of the sangha discussed the issue with DIG Sanjaya Kumar, who assured them that he would take up the matter with the district administration.