Kolkata: Businessmen and hawkers clashed with each other in the New Market area of ​​the city on Saturday amid tension over West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's instructions to reduce the occupation of street hawkers.

According to a police officer, the problem started when some hawkers objected to traders having permanent structures in the heritage New Market Complex and surrounding open spaces parking their vehicles there.

The hawkers demanded, as was decided in a meeting between Mayor Firhad Hakim and members of his association, that the parking space in front of Simpark Mall in the New Market complex be vacated from the vehicles of permanent shop owners and the hawkers be given their own space. Permission to display goods should be given.

As the arguments turned into fights, businessmen blocked the nearby S N Banerjee Road, disrupting traffic leading to Esplanade for about half an hour.

Hawkers also organized a rally in various streets of New Market-Chandni Chowk areas, alleging that shop owners were depriving them of their rightful space and endangering their livelihood.

Normalcy was restored following the intervention of senior police and KMC officials, allowing both groups to resume their activities.