Jharkhand: Traders down shutters to protest police 'inefficiency'

RANCHI: The bandh called by the Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce & Industries (FJCCI) on Monday to protest against the deteriorating law and order situation in the state evoked widespread response here with many district associations and their affiliate units extending their support.


Last week, two jeweller brothers were shot at by unidentified criminals at their shop in Lalpur here and no arrests have been made yet.

The shutdown was supported by the jewellery shops and the Ranchi Goods and Transport Association. Shambhu Prasad Gupta, president of Chamber of Commerce (Ranchi), said, " Pura mandi band hai (The entire market is closed). There hasn't been any supply of edibles from Pandra Market and we are sitting on a protest till 2pm against police inefficiency in tackling the law and order situation."

In some places, businessman in different groups walked through various market places and requested shopkeepers to observe the bandh. Later, those businessmen assembled at Albert Ekka Chowk and staged a protest before calling off the bandh.

In Santhal Pargana, Palamu , Garhwa and Kolhan, where traders sat on a protest after closing their shops. Kunal Ajmani, FJCCI president, said, "From industrial units in Seraikela-Kharsawan to retailers and wholesalers in Palamu, Garhwa and other districts, all have supported the bandh against the poor law and order situation in the state."

"No one has been arrested in the jewellery shop incident in which two brothers were shot and critically injured. The incident has raised a question mark over the safety of the traders and businessmen in the state. The criminals should be arrested immediately" Ajmani said.

On October 14, five criminals who arrived on bikes entered the Gahana Ghar jewellery shop and shot at two brothers who tried to resist the robbery. On Sunday shop owners wore black badges on their arms to protest against the incident and demanded the arrest of the criminals.