The first day of relaxation of the ban on entry of two-wheelers in the Paltan Bazaar saw some shopkeepers arguing with the police. The traders wanted to take their two-wheelers upto their shops, but the police clarified that the entry was allowed from 10.30 am.
On Friday, many shoppers and shopkeepers entered the bazaar on two-wheelers. However, earlier in the morning, the traders argued with the police to let them through before the designated time. Following the death of a shopkeeper from heart attack on Wednesday, the shopkeepers had downed shutters on Thursday and had threatened to show black flags to AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi during his day long Doon visit on Friday.
On Thursday, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna directed the district magistrate and senior superintendent of police to relax the ban on entry of two-wheelers in the Paltan Bazaar from 10:30 am to 3 pm. On Friday, a considerable number of shoppers entered the bazaar on two wheelers apart from the shopkeepers and workers who did likewise. The traders were happy with the development and expressed hope that the loss to their business due to the enforcement of the ban on two-wheelers in the past three months might now be overcome following the relaxation in the restriction. There was some confusion about what the police would do to the two wheelers parked in the bazaar after 3 pm. After the expiry of the entry period, the police directed the shoppers to park their vehicles in designated parking spaces outside the bazaar. Policemen were seen telling the riders to park their vehicles at the MDDA complex parking facility which has been made free of charge.