Mixed response in Kanpur to state-wide traders' bandh

There was mixed response here to the state-wide bandh called by traders in protest against the alleged assault on trade leader and former SP Rajya Sabha MP Banwari Lal Kanchal by some lawyers in the state capital.
The bandh was called by the Kanchal group of the Uttar Pradesh Udyog Vyapar Pratinidhi Mandal.
While petrol pumps across the city remained closed for two hours, shops in Sarafa Bazar, Galla Mandi, Maniyaram Bagiya Market remained closed throughout the day.
"We support the bandh and so all petrol pumps of the city remained closed from 12 to 2 pm," president of the Kanpur Petrol Diesel Dealers Association Om Shankar Mishra said.

However, shops in city's major markets Naveen Market, Somdutt Plaza, Arya Nagar Vyapar Mandal, Nayaganj Sarafa Vyapar Mandal and some other markets functioned normally.
"All markets in the Somdutt Plaza Market were open and functioned normally," president of the market Himanshu Kohli said.

Shops in areas like Chamanganj, Bekanganj, Bajariya and some other areas also remained open.
Traders supporting the bandh also took out a procession and urged other traders to also close down their shops.
Kanchal was allegedly assaulted on December 5.
According to STF, he had gone to a local court in Lucknow for some work where a group of 15-20 lawyers misbehaved with him and damaged window panes of his vehicles.

An FIR has been registered in this regard against eight lawyers.