Biz bears Jagan show brunt

For the past three days, freedom of movement of the people living around Nampally court was curtailed due to the Jagan arrest resulting in shop owners losing business

Residents of the area around the Nampally criminal court had a ringside view of the high-profile Jagan Mohan Reddy drama, yes, but it was not an unmixed blessing. For the past three days, their freedom of movement was curtailed and shop owners have lost a lot of business. They had to content with hoards of uniformed men with or without weapons eyeing them suspiciously.

On Monday evening, they sighed in relief. Jagan being taken to prison has ended their trouble. “I had a hard time convincing cops to let me go to my house yesterday. I called up my son on phone and asked him to get me. Even then I was forced to park my vehicle on Nampally main road and walk home,” said Mohammed Junaid Mustafa, who resides bang opposite the main gate of the court. He pointed out that almost everyone in the locality has been facing these problems for many days.

Not just the roads leading to the court, but almost every by-lane is barricaded for safety, some of which motorists aren’t allowed to use at all. The only option that they have is to take a winding detour, often tackling the confusing interconnected roads.

“My house is located just beside the police barricade opposite Himalaya Hotel. Since I wasn’t allowed to use the road as it leads to the Nampally Court, I had to find an alternate route to reach home. It isn’t much of a problem for me since I have been living here since about 20 years. But for my friends and relatives who visit me, it was a hell of an experience. It is also hard to explain. What I have started to do is drive down and get them home,” claimed P Vijender, a businessman.

The decibel levels during the three days that Jagan was summoned to the court, too proved unbearable for residents. They alleged that the police force was deployed near the court from 6am and the media corps came soon after.

“The police whistle for instructions, the media persons talk and shout loudly. Every time a prominent person neared the place, a deafening shout of hurray goes up that startles the kids. The area gets pretty chaotic. Getting a good night’s sleep is next to impossible during such times. Nobody has any consideration for us,” lamented resident Jameel Ansari.

As if representing a warzone weren’t enough, the shopkeepers were advised to keep their shutters down. Since most of the shopkeepers here live off daily sales, having to forcefully keeping their shops closed is not going down too well with them.

“I tried keeping my shop open during the first day that Jagan was summoned to court, but the police requested me to keep in shut. Every day that I keep my shop closed, I lose out `1,000 in sales. That is a big amount for me as I have to support my family,” complained Iqbal Ahmed, who runs a bookstore near the court.

Tags: arrest, closed, featured, full-image, Nampally court, shops, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy

Category: City, City News