Gopalganj traders proceed on indefinite strike against police atrocity

Alok Mishra

Gopalganj: Angry over alleged police atrocities, traders of Gopalganj town proceeded on an indefinite strike on January 11. Most of the shops remained closed in different markets of the city.

If market sources are to be believed, the indefinite strike by the trading community would lead to a loss of Rs 2.53 crore daily. Their agitation has also adversely affected Makar Sankranti festival as customers are returning empty-handed without purchasing chuda, tiulkut, tilwa used during the festival. Most of the shops on Main Road, Chandragokhul Road, Shyam Cinema Road and Purani Chowk had downed their shutters but several shops on Banjari Road, Janata Cinema Road, Jangaliya, Ambedkar Chowk and Jadopur Chowk remained open.

The traders alleged that during immersion of idols of Maa Durga during Dussehra, some anti-social elements had indulged in arson and the cops had put several innocent people behind bars and sent them to jail after mercilessly beating them. They said that those involved in the arson are moving scot-free while complaints have been lodged against innocent people. The policemen are targeting social activists, traders and members of different Puja Samitis and harassing them, the traders alleged threatening to paralyse the working of Gopalganj town if stern action is not taken against police officedials concerned.

It may be mentioned here that BJP leader Deepak Kumar Deepu, District Board member Subhash Singh, trader Dhananjay Kumar and students’ leader Sachin Singh were arrested in the past one week. Earlier, FIRs had been registered against over two dozen persons including several traders by police. Efforts to contact senior police officers proved futile as they refused to make comments on it.