Shopkeepers at KMC market in Kidderpore protest against police inaction

Kolkata: Shopkeepers in Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) market in Kidderpore closed their shops in protest against the failure of the police to arrest thieves.

The shopkeepers alleged that their shops have been looted by criminals who enter the shops by breaking the asbestos shed at night when the shops remain closed. They have looted almost all the shops in the market. They alleged that they had reported the matter to the Ekbalpore and Watgunj police stations. The police came for investigation but failed to arrest them.

The shopkeepers alleged that the criminals operate in connivance with a section of policemen and the miscreants have threatened locals who had gone to the police station to lodge complaints.

The shopkeepers said on Thursday they had organised a token strike and if the miscreants are not arrested, then all the KMC markets in Kolkata will be closed. "We have no intention to harass our customers but because of the indifferent attitude of the police, we are forced to close our shops."

Complaints of thefts have been made by the shopkeepers of other KMC markets as well, particularly Manicktola and Beliaghata. The shopkeepers alleged that because of poor maintenance of the markets, the thieves and burglars sneak in at night and decamp with all the goods.