Jharkhand/Dhanbad (M Bharat 24 News Live / Correspondent): In protest against the attack and loot of trader Shyam Bhimsaria, the Agriculture Market Committee (Bazaar Samiti) in the Barwaddah police station area of Dhanbad remained completely closed on Monday. The traders expressed strong anger over Sunday evening’s incident in which three bike-borne assailants opened fire and looted four lakh rupees from Bhimsaria.
All 417 shops in the Mandi complex were kept closed throughout the day. The traders also staged a sit-in protest at the main gate of the market premises, demanding the immediate arrest of the culprits and recovery of the looted amount.
Businessmen alleged that attacks on traders are increasing continuously, and the business community now feels unsafe. The day-long shutdown resulted in an estimated business loss of seven to eight crore rupees, as the entire wholesale trade in the area came to a standstill.
Leaders from across the district, including several trader associations, joined the protest. Prominent political figures like Dhanbad MP Dhullu Mahto, Jharia MLA Ragini Singh, and former Mayor Chandrashekhar Agrawal reached the spot and extended their support to the agitating traders.
Addressing the protest, MP Dhullu Mahto said that the morale of criminals has gone up and the administration must take strict and immediate action.
MLA Ragini Singh targeted the state government, saying, “Whenever the issue of crime and law and order is raised in the Assembly, the microphone is switched off. This shows the government’s insensitivity toward the public’s safety.”
Former Mayor Chandrashekhar Agrawal demanded installation of CCTV cameras, a police outpost, and deployment of Tiger Jawans inside the Mandi premises to prevent such incidents in the future.
District Chamber of Commerce President Chetan Goenka also condemned the attack and urged the administration to find a permanent security solution for traders.
It is noteworthy that the Dhanbad Market Committee alone contributes daily business transactions worth seven to eight crore rupees, and the day’s shutdown caused significant financial loss to local traders.
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