Ranchi, May 12:

More than a dozen vegetables sellers, mostly women, were injured today when police cane charged a mob protesting the opening of vegetables shops by Reliance Fresh here. Six people have been arrested.

Vegetables sellers stoned the Reliance shops in Lalpur locality and broke the window panes. They also damaged a number of cycles and generators found on Reliance Fresh premises. The vendors marched to the Reliance shops carrying bamboo sticks with a pumpkin on top and a basket of vegetables on their heads as they shouted slogans demanding closure of shops.

“Why is the state government allowing Reliance to open shops here. It is posing employment problems for us. We will continue our protest till the Reliance shops are closed,” said Ram Kumar, a vegetables vendor. Jyoti Kumari said, “Thousands of people earn their livelihood by selling vegetables. The arrival of Reliance is posing a threat to our survival. Reliance should concentrate on its other businesses.” This is the second time in a week the vendors took out a procession to protest Reliance Fresh shops.