Jammu, Nov 03: Shops and business establishments remained closed and vehicular traffic was scarce in Jammu city today in response to a bandh called by Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) with the support of several political and social organisations. The bandh has been called by state unit of BJP to protest the failure on all fronts of the coalition government led by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

While bandh was more forceful in the interiors of the city, shops remained open and traffic was plying normally in the outlying areas, official sources said. Attendance in government offices and public undertakings was also reported thin while many schools in the city remained closed, the bandh, they said adding however there was no untoward incident reported so far.

The bandh has also been observed in the towns of Kathua and Udhampur and coincides with the re-opening of civil secretariat and other offices in connection with bi-annual Darbar move in winter capital of the state. State BJP chief Nirmal Singh said today's bandh was just the beginning of a long and decisive struggle against the "militant-friendly and anti-Jammu policies" of the coalition government.

The bandh is supported by J&K Shiv Sena, Janta Dal (Secular), Jammu Mukti Morcha and some trade organisations.

Bureau Report