Mathura killings: Bullion traders threaten strike
Bullion traders of the state have threatened to go on indefinite strike from Friday to protest against the killing of two jewellers in Mathura on Monday night.
General secretary, Chowk Sarrafa Association, Vinod Maheshwari said, “The bullion traders met ADG (Law and Order), who promised that the criminals in Mathura case would be arrested within 72 hours, but nothing has been done. The police have some important leads in the case but have failed to act timely. The traders would remain on strike till the criminals are arrested and put behind the bars.”
In Lucknow alone, there are more than 1,245 jewellery shops in major markets like Chowk, Alambagh, Aminabad, Gomti Nagar, Charbagh, Naka , Rajajipuram.
The Mathura bullion market and shops in Vrindavan remained closed on Thursday to protest the murder of two jewellers in Holi Gate market of Mathura. Former Mathura MLA Pradeep Mathur reached Holi Gate on Thursday to join the protesting traders and then met the family members of the deceased jewellers.
In a sudden move, the kin of one of the deceased Megh Agarwal joined the ongoing protest at Holi Gate. They sat on hunger strike to protest the delay in arrest of accused and gave vent to their anger against UP minister Sri Kant Sharma for making hollow promises. Later, the additional district magistrate and city magistrate met the family members and assured them of action within two days. The protest was then called off.
It was the third consecutive day when bullion shops did not open in Mathura after the Monday night killing. The city is on the boil and jewellers and their family members are agitated over delay in arrest of the accused, believed to be six in number. On Thursday, the shopkeepers of Vrindavan also joined the protest and closed their shops.