Shops remain closed during HP medical bandh in Shimla

Shimla, May 25 (UNI) Medical services remained crippled and shops closed in Shimla town of Himachal Pradesh today in protest against the central government's decision to reserve 27 per cent seats in higher educational institutions for the OBCs.

Local traders downed their shutters and private medical clinics remained closed till 1300 hrs in support of the agitating medical students, while schools and colleges were functioning normally.

Police said no untoward incident had been reported from any part of the town during the one-day bandh called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) State transport and private buses and small vehicles were plying normally and no other service was affected due to the strike, and police said security had been beefed up in the town as a precautionary measure.

Resident Doctors Association (RDA) President Rajesh Sood said emergency services in hospitals of the town were not affected.

In all, 22 different organisations, including the local Beopar Mandal and HP Bar Council, had decided to support the strike, saying caste-based reservation was against the principles of equity.

UNI AS DP LR KP1527