New Delhi: The capital's police force is under fire from the human rights watchdog for hurting the livelihood of vendors it took off the streets as part of the security drill for US President Bill Clinton's visit in March.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the city government and Delhi police to explain their stand on a suit filed by some 50 roadside vendors for loss of earnings during the visit.

The Rehri-Patri Khomcha Union, a forum representing street vendors, said in its petition to the court that 50 vendors from central Delhi were removed from the area by the authorities for the entire month of March.

Delhi police removed the vendors as part of an effort to provide foolproof security to the US President, who stopped here from March 20 to 23. The vendors have sought compensation saying they were denied their livelihood.

The NHRC asked the city government and the police to file responses by the end of next month.

These vendors have been selling their wares in the Ajmeri Gate area, in the old quarter of Delhi, for the last 15 years. They said they were not allowed to resume their business even after the US President's departure, which led to a loss of about Rs 4,500 to each of them. They claimed that they were not even given alternative places to set up business in defiance of a Supreme Court order.

The suit said the city government did not intervene even after several letters were written to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. They argued that the action by the city government and the police was tantamount to a violation of human rights.

India Abroad News Service