The revolt came a day after hawkers' unions exhorted their members to agitate against BMC over the issue of segregating them into hawkers' zones. The unions have shot down the proposal, saying it's unfeasible and will severely affect their business.

Hawkers in Mulund reportedly pelted stones, inviting the ire of the police who accompanied the civic officials. Six hawkers were hospitalised and many detained due to the conflict, Mumbai Hawkers Union president Suresh Kapile said. Similar scenes took place outside the A ward office, where a sizeable number of hawkers refused to accept receipts. Due to police intervention, Kapile said, many of them later accepted receipts out of fear. In a letter to thepolice commissioner, he accused the police of abetting BMC in harassing hawkers. Hawkers in Kurla too reportedly refused to accept receipts from civic officials.

However, civic markets and gardens committee member Rajesh Sharma categorically said the hawking zones would come into effect after June 12, 1998. "We are going to implement the hawking zones. The administration won't bow before trouble-makers who're inciting hawkers," he said.

He said hawking zones would be implemented in three wards initially, as simultaneous implementation all over Mumbai would cause chaos at railway stations.

Meanwhile, union representatives will meet Union Railway Minister Nitish Kumar and Minister of State for Railways Ram Naik on June 11 to seek their support. Some 16,000 hawkers who use railway premises will press their long-standing demand for identity cards.