Pro SP activists attack retail outlets:SP MP arrested

Lucknow, Aug 22 (UNI) In a crackdown on traders opposing the entry of retail chains in the state, the Uttar Pradesh police has arrested Samajwadi Party MP Banwari Lal Kanchal along with one of his aides following attacks on the outlets of two major companies.

Police here said that Kanchal has been booked under various sections of the IPC for damaging property and instigating violence during the day in Lucknow and Varanasi.

Earlier today, activists of a traders' organisation, affiliated to the opposition Samajwadi Party, targetted two retail outlets of leading companies.

Outlets of Reliance Fresh and Spencers Daily were attacked by members of the traders association in Lucknow and Varanasi during their day-long protest against the entry of the retail sector in the state.

Interestingly, Reliance Fresh has opened 10 outlets in the state capital today, while Spencers was operating here for the past few months.

According to police, the activists ransacked a Reliance Fresh outlet at Sujanpura-Alambagh and had locked Spencers Daily outlet at the Aishbagh area.

Similar protests were also reported from Shivala and Sigra areas of Varanasi city, where the Reliance outlet, which is yet to be opened, was ransacked by the members of the local traders' union.

Police sources said mild force was used to disperse the protestors in both Lucknow and Varanasi, but no arrests have been made so far.

In Varanasi,Reliance would be opening 14 outlets on August 27.

UP Traders Association president and Rajya Sabha member Banwari Lal Kanchal, who led the agitation in the state capital, told UNI that the traders would not allow the retail chains to function.

''We are against the the entry of the retail sector as it will directly affect about 40 million people in the state'', he said.

Mr Kanchal, a Samajwadi Party leader, said that the traders would intensify their agitation if the government continues to favour the big companies in the retail sector.

Meanwhile, Reliance Fresh sources said they would lodge an FIR against the traders for damaging property and misbehaiving with women customers.

Sources said it was for the administration to provide security to the outlets.

Except for the one at Alambagh, the other nine outlets, which opened for customers today, operated smoothly.

UNI