POST-BLAST BLUES

Jagdish Market traders oppose police high-handednessA S Parking restrictions impacting businessA S Cops demanding Rs 3,000 per shop for CC cameras Traders in Jagdish Market, Koti, are sore that they are virtually being pushed out of business by certain unreasonable restrictions being imposed by the police in the wake of the Dilsukhnagar twin blasts. Sharing with The Hans India their concerns, the incensed traders mentioned that they were not opposed to security measures per se, but criticised the manner in which the police had been going about its job, preventing customers from entering the market. This amounted to harassment of the traders and if corrective measures were not taken right away; they could be facing serious trouble soon, the traders (names changed) said. Suhail said, "I am returning empty handed every day. I have to pay Rs 10,000 as rent for this small portion of the shop. There are almost 2,000 counters in this market and nearly 5,000 persons are employed here and every person who has a business interest in this market is suffering a lot because of the high-hardness of the police. The police have put barricades at the entrance and no vehicle is allowed to enter the market. If they park their vehicles outside, the police tow them away." Pradeep, another shop keeper, said: "The police are harassing us and asking us to pay for Rs 3,000 per shop towards security and CC cameras. From where should we bring the money and that too when our business has been affected?"Durwaish recalled that following the Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat blasts in 2007 they had faced a similar situation. The police officials came to us and collected the money promising that they would fix the cameras, but did nothing. "Now, again they are asking money for CC cameras," he said. He said that before the recent blast he used to sell about 15-20 mobiles per day. After the blasts, in view of the questionable police restrictions, sales had come down to 3-5 pieces per day and that too with great difficulty. Surya Karan, a tea stall vendor, said that he used to earn about Rs 2,000, but nowadays he was unable to earn even Rs 200, resulting in serious financial problems. "I have borrowed money from private money lenders under daily finance scheme and I have to repay Rs 1,000 per day to them. With no income I have become a defaulter and the dues are mounting,"he said. Interestingly, not only the market, but also Sri Laxmi Matha Mandir, located inside the market area, wears a deserted look with hardly any devotees.