Ghaziabad DCP Rijul buys rangoli colours from street vendor before Diwali

Ghaziabad Trans Hindon Deputy Commissioner of Police Rijul bought Rs 500 of rangoli supplies from a woman selling goods by the roadside during a festival foot patrol. The vendor, identified as Rani in the reporter's account, said she had sold only Rs 200 of goods since morning.

A video supplied with the report shows the woman seated beside colourful merchandise on the pavement, with children and other people nearby. An officer speaks with her as she lifts a transparent bag containing goods towards him. The footage shows the bag being handed over, while other police personnel stand nearby.

Purchase during a market patrol

According to the correspondent, Rijul was walking through the market with police personnel when he stopped at the stall. After hearing about the slow sales, he bought goods from the woman. The correspondent also said he encouraged accompanying personnel to shop from small roadside vendors who did not have customers.

A Dainik Bhaskar report independently reported the Rs 500 purchase and the woman's account of having made only Rs 200 in sales that morning. It placed the interaction in Indirapuram market during a foot march on Dhanteras.

Attention to roadside vendors

Quoting the DCP, Dainik Bhaskar reported that roadside vendors should not be unnecessarily troubled. If a stall caused congestion, it could be moved back to make space. The officer also spoke about the importance of festival earnings for these vendors and their households.

The report said police interacted with traders, shoppers and senior citizens during the market patrol to ask about difficulties and security arrangements. The photographs accompanying this article were extracted from the video supplied by the correspondent, rather than taken at a separate event.

Related reporting: Dainik Bhaskar