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Staff Reporter

Traders not to celebrate Diwali

NEW DELHI: To protest against the ongoing sealing drive against illegal commercial establishments in the Capital, city traders on Friday decided not to celebrate Diwali this year. Stating that they have no reason to cheer this Diwali as their businesses have been severely hit by the ongoing drive, the Confederation of All-India Traders has said they would neither illuminate markets nor decorate them during the current festive season.

CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal said the "painful decision" was taken at a meeting of various traders' bodies. "The events in the past 10 months have left traders a dejected lot. It was with a heavy heart that we decided not to celebrate Diwali." Traders have also decided to perform symbolic puja and not to exchange gifts or sweets. Stating that the Government would also suffer severe revenue crunch if it decided to go ahead with the sealing drive, the CAIT leaders said it has also been decided to set up a "traders vigilance committee" to check unauthorised commercialisation in the city. CAIT has also urged the Government to immediately notify the Master Plan for Delhi-2021.

Murder accused held

NEW DELHI: A 26-year-old man wanted in Bihar for an alleged murder was arrested by the Crime Branch of the Delhi police near Sapna Cinema in South Delhi on Friday. The accused, Sanjay Kumar Yadav, has been remanded in judicial custody by a city court.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of the Crime Branch was positioned near Sapna cinema to wait for Yadav - who had earlier escaped frompolice custody -- to make his appearance. He was soon arrested after being identified by an informer.

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