Aurangabad, April 12:
All the traders from the city reopened their shops at 10 am on Monday, however, they had to shut down the establishments following police instructions.
It may be noted that the number of COVID patients started rising across the State from March. All the shops, except essential commodities, were shut down across the State after the Government announced a mini lockdown to contain the spread of the pandemic virus.
The traders were worried about business losses because of curbs. All the traders' unions of the State decided to reopen the shops simultaneously on April 12 so that they can pay employees wages, loan instalments and GST works.
Zilla Vyapari Mahasangh (ZVM) urged the traders to reopen the shops between 10 am to 5 pm.
The traders and their employees started gathering in front of their shops at Paithan Gate, Gulmandi, Raja Bazaar, Sarafa, City Chowk, Jawahar Colony, Cidco and Hudco areas since the morning.
They reopened their shops.
Police vehicles reached Paithan Gate, Gulmandi, at 11 am, instructed shop owners, through a loudspeaker, to shut down their shops as the district administration had not issued any relaxation in curbs.
Police warned them that action would be taken if they reopen their business establishments. They had to shut down the shops.
There was the same situation in other parts of the city. Some of them have down only half shutter fearing action. Many traders were seen sitting in front of their shops even after closing it.
ZVM president Jagannath Kale, Laxminarayan Rathi, Ajay Shah, Praful Malani, Tansukh Zambar, Harwindersingh Saluja, Gulam Haqqani and others reached Paitha and Gaulmandi in the morning had appealed to traders to reopen their business establishments.
Jagannath Kale said that traders responded to the Mahasangh’s appeal and reopened the shops in the morning. “Police made traders shut down their shops. In some areas, shops were opened. We will take a decision now than appealing to traders,” he added.