Violence mars Delhi 'bandh', 120 arrested; trade loss of Rs 500 cr

New Delhi, Nov 7 (UNI) Violence marred 24-hour Delhi 'bandh' today saw total shutdown of shops even as traders clashed with police, damaged government property and blocked traffic to vent their anger and frustation over the sealing drive, despite the presence of 25 'extra' companies of security personnel to maintain law and order.

Once again, most incidents of violence centred around East Delhi areas where about half a dozen buses were damaged, lumpen elements brickbatted the police and carried out 'chakka jam' at various locations.

The scene of 'action' was largely in and around Vikas Marg and Mayur Vihar along with few pockets in Green Park. At Rohini a minor scuffle took place between protestors and the police over road blockade.

Protesting traders damaged public property and blocked traffic in various areas of East Delhi, especially the arterial Vikas Marg.

Police used tear gas, banton-charged unruly crowd and used water cannons to disperse aggressive mob which also damaged government buses.

Demonstrations were also held in some parts of South Delhi with traders taking out a rally in Green Park. Police detained many of them, including BJP leader Vijay Goel and his supporters.

The bandh, however, got a terrific response with most markets downing shutters.

Heavy 'bandobast' had been made by the city police, which was also reinforced by central police forces, in view of the strike.

In all 41 additional companies, including 25 companies of para-military forces and 16 companies of the Delhi Police Reserve Battalion, besides the regular Delhi Police today manned the 'bandh'.

Of the para-military forces, nine were from the CRPF, six from BSF and the rest from ITBP and SSB.

The police said it made 120 preventive arrests, mostly traders, and detained 486 people from various locations. However, sources said nearly 1,500 people, coming in trucks and buses, were detained across the city.

''Another 18 arrests were made in East Delhi on charges of rioting. Of this 18 were in Pandav Nagar and 10 in Shakarpur,'' it added.

While traders were apprehensive about the sealing drive, the common man was worried about his safety after violent incidents that marred the 72-hour Delhi trade bandh, which ended on November 1.

All government-run schools were closed and so were public schools as a precautionary measure.

Supporting the traders' protest, BJP workers also staged 'dharnas' and resorted to 'chakka jam'. Several partymen, including BJP Delhi Pradesh President Harsh Vardhan, courted arrest.

A rough estimate has put trade loss to about Rs 500 crores due to bandh and another loss of Rs 30 crore to the Delhi Government in terms of VAT revenue loss. Besides this the Union Government also suffered huge loss of revenue in terms of Income Tax, Service Tax and several other taxes.

Meanwhile, the sealing drive against commercial establishments in residential areas of the national capital will resume tomorrow.

Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee Member K J Rao said this evening that the sealing drive would start tomorrow, without giving any further details.

However, it was understood that the drive would re-start first against big shops in South Delhi colonies and those who had filed affidavits promising to close such unauthorised units.

Earlier today, the three-member committee had a meeting with officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Delhi Police to chalk out the schedule for the resumption of sealing.

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