Hawkers affiliated to CITU-allied West Bengal Railway Hawkers' Union held a protest in front of Sealdah railway station in Kolkata against their removal from the premises and surrounding areas.

The railway authorities, with assistance from the police, are holding anti-encroachment drives at various stations, including Howrah and Sealdah.

Claiming that the hawkers have been left without livelihood, the union demanded their rehabilitation.

In a bid to clear the platforms and other surrounding areas at railway stations of encroachment to make movement of passengers hassle-free, the railways resorted to the eviction of hawkers, officials said.