Surat, July 29, 2025: A chaotic altercation broke out between Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) anti-encroachment officials and a couple running a roadside tea stall in Pandesara, Surat, on Monday. The confrontation, captured on video and now viral on social media, has drawn public attention and raised questions about the manner in which street vendors are handled during encroachment drives.
According to eyewitnesses, the SMC team was attempting to confiscate a tea cart allegedly encroaching on public space. The stall owner and his wife tried to resist the action, pleading with folded hands to let them retain the cart, which they said was their only source of livelihood. However, the officials continued with the operation.
As tensions escalated, a physical altercation ensued. The woman reportedly became agitated and was seen grabbing a police officer’s collar during the scuffle. Meanwhile, her husband was pushed aside by SMC workers, who also grabbed his t-shirt in an attempt to restrain him. The video shows scenes of shouting, shoving, and heated exchanges between the couple and officials.
Police have taken cognizance of the incident after the video went viral but stated that no formal complaint has yet been lodged. Pandesara Police Inspector H.M. Gadhvi confirmed that a 112 emergency call was made from the scene, but no FIR has been registered. Authorities have now launched an inquiry into the matter based on the video footage circulating widely online.
The incident has reignited discussions about the treatment of small vendors by civic authorities and the need for humane enforcement during anti-encroachment drives.
