Pulwama terror attack: Traders' strike in Cachar on Monday

Different trade organisations have called for a dawn-to-dusk strike in Cachar district on Monday in protest against the attack on Indian soldiers at Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir recently.

More than 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans were killed and many others injured when a car laden with explosives rammed into a CRPF bus – part of a convoy – in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday afternoon.

The bus which was carrying 51 CRPF jawans and was on its way from Jammu to Srinagar, was hit by a Mahindra Scorpio, which was loaded with over 300 kilograms of explosives and driven by a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) suicide bomber. As a result, over 40 jawan died and many others were injured.

The decision of calling the strike was unanimously taken at a meeting on Saturday. Food Grains Merchant Association’s president Asit Dutta said all the business establishments would remain closed on Monday. However, the strike will not be related with movement of vehicles and medical stores would be open (as usual during bandhs), he said.

The organisations which called the strike include Silchar Food Grains Merchant Association, Cachar District Distributor Association, Silchar Business Association Co-Ordination Committee, Fatak Bazar Merchant Association, New Market Merchant Association, Wholesale Fish Merchant Association and Stationary and Retailer Association.

Members of the organisations will take out a silent march in memory of the departed souls around 11am on Monday morning. The march will start from near Fatak Bazar Kalibari area following which the members will submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi (through Cachar district administration) demanding stern action against those involved in the attack on the soldiers.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has called for a nation-wide traders’ strike on Monday. The decision has been supported by several organisations across the country.