Jat stir: traders observe complete bandh against vandalism

Kurukshetra: Shopkeepers and traders on Saturday observed a complete shutdown today at Kurukshetra and nearby Ladwa town against the vandalism by agitators during Jat quota stir in the state.

Business establishments, including eateries and grain markets, remained closed in the district.

People assembled at Maharana chowk and staged a sit-in at Maharaja Agarsain chowk, blocking traffic from GT Road to Thanesar town for several hours.

A traders body also threatened to observe bandh across Haryana next month if compensation is not given to those whose commercial establishments and other properties were damaged in the vandalism.

The sit-in was lifted after City Magistrate Puja Bharti reached the spot and accepted a memorandum from the traders.

The memorandum demanded a CBI inquiry into the arson, loot and vandalism during reservation agitation and full compensation to the affected by March 10.

It also demanded governmen t jobs for the kin of the victims and registration of sedition cases against persons who indulged in violence.

Later, the protesters held a demonstration at the Deputy Commissioner's office.

General Secretary of Haryana Rice Millers and Traders Association, Jewal Singhal, said a bandh will be observed in Haryana after March 10 if proper compensation is not given to the victims whose shops, commercial establishments and other property were damaged in the stir.

They also demanded action against the Jat quota protesters who allegedly raped women at Murthal near Sonipat during the stir.