Yet again Old City has been asked to shut down early. The South Zone police on Monday clamped a blanket deadline of 10 pm for all business establishments, including hotels, across its 17 police station limits in the Old City. The deadline would be strictly enforced till Hanuman Jayanti that falls on April 6.
Manish Kumar Sinha, DCP, South Zone, said that as the night time traffic was considerably high in this part of the city, the deadline would only help the police curb any untoward incidents in view of the festival. “If the establishments remain closed, people will not venture out without reason,” said Sinha.
While the 10 pm deadline has been imposed ever since the Hindu Vahini attacks post Bakrid in November last year, Sinha said it was enforced so far only in eight police station limits. For the rest of the nine police station limits, which are comparatively peaceful, the deadline was extended till 11 pm after normalcy returned, he said. For hotels, the deadline had been relaxed across the South Zone, he said adding that over the next five days, the enforcement would however be strict.
For traders and hoteliers who witness a major flow of customers during the night times, the move is seen as a major setback for business. “The harassment by police is unwarranted. If every festival is made a security issue, how can we do business?” rued Mehfooz Ahmed, president, Old City Traders’ Association. Ahmed said that during summer months, customers preferred late night shopping and if they have to shut shop by 10 pm, they would have to start wrapping up from 8.30 pm.
“We get customers from other parts of the city and tourists till late in the night. There will be a huge impact because during these days, business starts at around 10 pm,” said M A Majeed of Pista House. He added that people coming from far flung areas might have to go back empty stomach because of the deadline.
–TOI