Communal Assault on Chicken Patty Hawker at Kolkata Event; Federation Launches Symbolic Protest
Date of Report: December 12, 2025
Report Prepared By:Joint Secretaries, Hawker Sangram Committee (A unit of the National Hawker Federation)
Subject:Report on Targeted Attack, Economic Sabotage, and Symbolic Protest.
Incident Details· Date & Time of Incident: December 7, 2025·
Location of Incident: Brigade Parade Ground, Kolkata· Associated Event: ‘Lakh Konte Geeta Path’ program organized by Sanatani Culture Parishad. The event was attended by prominent political figures including BJP leaders Shubhendu Adhikari and Sukanta Majumdar.
II. Description of Incident On December 7th, during a large public event, numerous licensed hawkers were conducting business. Among them was our member, Mr. Sheikh Riyazul, who was vending chicken patties.The incident began when an individual identified as Mr. Shaubhik Gowladar approached Mr. Riyazul’s stall. Upon observing that the vendor was selling non-vegetarian food and was a Muslim, Mr. Gowladar initiated a brazen attack. The assault involved:
1. A torrent of Islamophobic verbal abuse and slurs.
2. Severe physical beating of the vendor.
3. Willful destruction of his livelihood by seizing his entire stock of chicken patties and scattering them on the ground.
This was a premeditated act of communal violence and economic sabotage, directly targeting a citizen based on his religion and legal trade.
III. Impact & Protest Action·
Impact: The attack caused significant physical injury, deep psychological trauma, and total economic loss for Mr. Riyazul. It represents an egregious violation of the right to livelihood, dignity, and safety.
Protest Action: In vehement protest, the Hawker Sangram Committee organized a public demonstration.
· Date & Time: December 12, 2025, from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM.
· Location: In front of Grand Hotel, Dharmatala, Kolkata.
· Symbolic Act: To defiantly assert the right to trade and condemn communal targeting, the General Secretary of the Committee, Mr. Saktiman Ghosh, publicly sold chicken patties at the protest site.
IV. Official Stance & Demands
The National Hawker Federation condemns this hate crime in the strongest possible terms. We see this not as an isolated scuffle but as a sinister attempt to intimidate and economically disenfranchise hawkers from minority communities.We demand immediate action:
1. The immediate filing of an FIR against Shaubhik Gowladar under appropriate sections of the IPC for assault, criminal intimidation, promoting enmity between groups, and mischief causing damage.
2. A swift, transparent, and impartial police investigation.
3. Financial compensation from the accused for the destroyed goods and medical expenses of Mr. Riyazul.
4. A public assurance from local authorities and event organizers of a safe and non-discriminatory environment for all vendors.
V. Signatories For the Hawker Sangram Committee, National Hawker Federation
Murad Hossain Joint Secretary
Debashish Das Joint Secretary
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