The Hindu : Kerala News : Hartal called by traders total, peaceful

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Wednesday, Jan 10, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala

Hartal called by traders total, peaceful

Staff Reporter

Traders allege that raids on video libraries are to help private companies

NO BUSINESS: Shops at Broadway in the city remain closed in connection with the hartal called by the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi on Tuesday. - Photo: VipinChandran

KOCHI: Traders in the city observed a hartal from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

They were protesting against the raids carried out by authorities on video libraries.

The hartal was total and peaceful. The traders took out a march to the office of the DIG in the morning.

Hotels and medical shops were excluded from the hartal.

Representatives of Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithy and Kerala Merchants Union took part in the hartal.

`Just cause'

The merchants were supporting the video shop-owners as they were agitating for a just cause, said K. Venkitesh Pai, leader of the Union.

The raids were intended to help some private companies which were interested in opening shops, alleged Divakaran Pillai, an office-bearer of the samithy.

Vehicles, including private buses, plied on city roads.

The high density traffic, a regular feature of the city roads, was absent as the shopping centres remained closed.

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