The Sunday west UP bandh—the call for which was given by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—saw mixed response in the districts in the region. in Muzzafarnagar saw better response to the bandh than Shamli, Meerut, Aligarh or Bagpat where bandh saw mixed response.
No violence or clashes related to the bandh was reported anywhere in the west UP, though there was an incident of lathicharge on BJP workers outside Banda jail reported from Banda were BJP MLA Suresh Rana is lodged.
BJP gave bandh call for west UP to protest arrest of its MLAs Suresh Rana and Sangeet Som on charges of inciting Muzzafarnagar riots. Suresh Rana was arrested on Friday while Som on Saturday. Som is in Jalaun jail.
Nearly 80% shops in most markets were remained shut in Muzzafarnagar through the day, but in most other districts markets opened after late afternoon.
The local units of BJP instructed its activists that they should not to force any closure as the party wanted to see how much of natural support the party would get form people. BJP workers were seen ‘out in the field’ through the day requested traders to keep shops and business shut.
The main markets of Shiv Chowk situated in the heart of city, Markets of Prakash Chowk,, Mahaveer Chowk, Circular Road, Bhagat Singh Road, Alankar Market, Jhansi Ki Rani Chowk, Hanuman chowk, Shamli Road, Gandhi Colony area, New Mandi, S.D. College Market, Guru Teg Bahadur Market, Maulaheri Market, Narjeet Market, Katra Mochiaan, Sarrafa Bazar, Bindal Market, Lal Singh Market Patel Nagar were remained closed while no effect of bandh was observed in minority inhabitated areas of Khalapar, Laddhawala.Idgaah, while some shops on Arya Samaj Raod were opened, some of the shops before Holy Angles Schools on Town Hall road, Ansari Road, Novelty Chowk, were also seen open. Most of the Shops at Jansath Road, remained closed.
{{/usCountry}}The main markets of Shiv Chowk situated in the heart of city, Markets of Prakash Chowk,, Mahaveer Chowk, Circular Road, Bhagat Singh Road, Alankar Market, Jhansi Ki Rani Chowk, Hanuman chowk, Shamli Road, Gandhi Colony area, New Mandi, S.D. College Market, Guru Teg Bahadur Market, Maulaheri Market, Narjeet Market, Katra Mochiaan, Sarrafa Bazar, Bindal Market, Lal Singh Market Patel Nagar were remained closed while no effect of bandh was observed in minority inhabitated areas of Khalapar, Laddhawala.Idgaah, while some shops on Arya Samaj Raod were opened, some of the shops before Holy Angles Schools on Town Hall road, Ansari Road, Novelty Chowk, were also seen open. Most of the Shops at Jansath Road, remained closed.
{{/usCountry}}Though the BJP workers were asked not to force any closures, still the district administration ensured adequate security measures in the city and heavy police force was deployed in the city area. At various places, police personals along with the teams of RRF, RAF and PAC were posted. There was no hindrance to any movement of city residents and the city did not show any fear.
A complete closure was observed in Asia’s largest Gur Mandi, although it was a weekly off there, but most of the trading firms always found engage in their work to manage their weekly accounts and business. Contrary to this not a single firm or shop was opened today.
Less traffic was observed on roads in Meerut, Moradababd, Ghaziabad, Noida and other adjoining districts where most f the shops, cinema halls, gas agencies and petrol pumps remained closed but reopened after 3 pm.