Bandh in old areas of Ahmedabad against anti-Islam film

The roads of Teen Darwaja, Lal Darwaja, Dhalgarwad and Pankornaka wore a deserted look on Monday as Muslim traders in these areas kept their shops closed in protest against an anti-Islamic film that has provoked protests across the world.

In some localities, Muslim leaders also forced everyone to observe a bandh. Earlier, on Friday, a successful bandh was observed in Juhapura for the same reason.

It is not known who gave the call for Monday’s bandh. Some Muslim leaders seem to have taken the lead with others following their appeal. Muslim traders in the above-mentioned areas requested and at places even forced traders of both minority and majority communities to shut their shops.

A crowd collected on the streets near Lal Darwaja and shouted slogans. People in the crowd were carrying banners demanding a ban on the film. However, the Karanj police intervened to maintain law and order and the situation returned to normal.

“There was some trouble in the area and some people tried to stop auto-rickshaws from plying. However, the police acted promptly and restored normalcy. Nobody was detained,” said a source in Karanj police.

However, Muslim leaders claimed that the protest was peaceful and the traders had cooperated voluntarily. “All the traders and hawkers in the area respected our feelings and kept their shops closed in a show of solidarity with us,” said a former municipal councillor.

The Muslim leaders will also call for a bandh in other minority dominated areas of the city such as Kalupur, Dariapur, Shahpur, Danilimda, Jamalpur and Gomtipur among others. Meanwhile, the Akhil Bharatiya Mahila Adhikar Sangh, Gujarat Pradesh, will organise a silent protest rally on October 3.