Ghaziabad traders closed markets, took out processions and staged sit-ins after a city jeweller was robbed Sunday night.
Angry over the deteriorating law and order situation, leaders of the traders' organisation and political parties came out on the roads, blocked traffic, took out a procession and staged sit-ins at the police station and on the Ambedkar Road.
Traders' leader Gopi Chand said it is very sad the police have failed to check crime in the city. He said daily robberies have forced women from going out for a walk as their chains are being snatched.
The city unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged an indefinite sit-in at the police office. The jewellers' association extended its support to the BJP leaders.
Jewellers' leader Rajiv Sharma said police are apathetic towards the problems of jewellers who are a soft target of robbers.
Five unidentified robbers in a car Sunday hit the scooter of Gaurav Garg of Deepali Jewellers when he was leaving his residence. After firing at and critically injuring Garg, they escaped with his bag of 35 gold rings and other jewellery valued in lakhs of rupees.
After some time when police were investigating the case, Garg's scooter also went missing. Garg, who sustained three bullet injuries, was shifted to the ICU at Yashoda Hospital where doctors declared his condition stable.
Circle Officer Atul Yadav said, "A case has been registered against unidentified criminals. Efforts are being made to nab the robbers. Negotiations with traders and political organisations are on to end the stalemate."
