Residents and traders of Hansi town, about 27 km from here, observed a bandh today against "rising" incidents of dacoity, ransom, robberies and murders.
Three traders have received threatening letters for ransom in the past ten days, local traders alleged.
Leaders of opposition parties Haryana Janhit Congress, BJP and INLD joined the demonstration staged by shopkeepers.
Addressing a gathering of traders, Sadhu Ram Goyal, president of Kiryana Merchant Association and Praveen Tayal, Convener, Sarv Vyapar Mandal, alleged that the police have failed to check crime in the town.
"Criminals easily commit crime and go scot-free. Many doctors and traders have shifted to other towns.
"It has become difficult for them to live in perpetual fear and run their businesses in an environment of violence and crime," Goyal alleged.
