Tamil Nadu

Shops in certain areas down shutters in Karaikal

KARAIKAL: Many shops in certain areas downed their shutters and people stayed back home in Karaikal following the appeal by Karaikal Struggle Group’s call for a “self-imposed curfew” on Tuesday.

However, normal life was unaffected as a number of private establishments, all government institutions and schools remained open.

Following the Karaikal Struggle Group’s demand for a complete curfew, nearly 80 per cent of all shops in the town were closed in the early part of the day, a source said.

Since the curfew call coincided with the decision by Nehru Market shop owners’ call for bandh in support of Sri Lankan Tamils, Nehru Market was virtually shuttered down till about noon.

However, shops were opened towards noon without any incident and normal life was restored to a large extent by afternoon.

The decision of the Karaikal Chamber of Commerce to withdraw from its earlier support for the curfew call is said to have affected the participation in the curfew.

While the Group had called for the curfew to protest “Karaikal’s underdevelopment,” and the “step-motherly treatment given by the Puducherry government,” the Chief Minister visited the district along with MP M. Ramadass and assured that all steps would be taken to ensure Karaikal’s development.

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