Common people faced problems as public transport and markets in the city remained closed on Monday in response to the bandh called by State Congress in protest against the Maoist attack on party leaders in Chhattisgarh.
Congress workers were seen forcibly shutting down a few shops that were open in some localities. At some places the police resorted to mild force to disperse the party workers.
The Bhopal district unit of Youth Congress led by its district President Manoj Shukla took out a motorcycle rally at the Hamidia Road in the city and distributed roses to bystanders.
He was accompanied by Congress leader and Municipal Corporation President Kailash Mishra. Congress district President PC Sharma and rural President Avanish Bhargava also took out a rally in several parts of the city.
They were seen requesting the shopkeepers and others to cooperate in the bandh by shutting their shops.
The police had made special arrangements in wake of the Congress bandh in the city.
Police patrol parties were seen taking stock of the situation in different parts of the city. Police personnel were also seen deployed at sensitive points in different areas.
In the old city, party legislator Arif Aqueel, state secretary Nasir Islam, Arif Masood, Munnawar Kausar and others took a round of market places and urged shopkeepers to close their shops. Bandh was also observed by the party in BHEl and Kolar localities of the city. Besides, a condolence meet was also held by the party at Bairagarh. The ‘pol kholo yatra’ of the party in this locality has been postponed for three days in wake of the Maoist assault in Chhattisgarh.
Common people faced severe difficulties with public transport coming to near-complete halt till the afternoon due to the bandh. Stranded people were seen asking for lift from private vehicles in all parts of the city.
Besides, in compliance of the bandh call by State unit of Congress, the Gwalior district Congress committee actively participated in the bandh.
The officer-bearers and workers of the Congress descended on the road and urged the traders to observe bandh and shut their shops. The police also made elaborate arrangements. The medical and shop of essential goods are exempted from the bandh.
No information of any untoward incident of bandh was repored. The beginning of Gwalior bandh was made from Kampoo, where congress office bearers and workers gathered in large number.
The district president of congress Darshan Singh led the bandh and made the block presidents responsible to close the market of their areas. The congress office bearers and workers requested the traders to shut their shops instead of using force.
They shouted slogan against BJP. The congress demanded president rule in Chhattisgarh and dismissal of Raman Singh government. In view of the bandh called by the congress nearly 500 jawans were posted in the city extensively.