SURAT: Shops and commercial establishments in many parts of the city observed a bandh on Saturday in the memory of 40 CRPF personnel martyred in a terror attack at Pulwama in Jammu & Kashmir two days ago.Over 70,000 shops in 180 textile markets also remained closed. Condolence meetings for the CRPF martyrs had been held at different markets on Friday too and appeal for donations made for their next of kin. Traders and employees in the textile markets took out a rally to pay homage to the martyrs even as some textile manufacturers announced donations for their families. Markets on Ghod Dod Road, Bhagal and Chauta Bazaar remained closed. People moved around in Parvat Patia area with national flags and asked shopkeepers to down the shutters. They shouted slogans against Pakistan for its role in the terror attack on the CRPF convoy. There was a minor tussle also between a shop owner and a group of people in Palsana over his refusal to close the shop.“We took out rallies and held a condolence meeting on Friday. We hope that the Union Government will take some action against Pakistan. Daily trade of three crore metre of cloth came to a halt because we kept the market closed today,” Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association (FOSTTA) president Manoj Agarwal said.Meanwhile, hundreds of people joined candlelight march at Kargil Chowk in Piplod on Friday and Saturday. Residents gathered in Amroli area with banners and posters to pay respects to the martyrs. At multiple locations, effigies of Pakistan and terrorists were burned by the residents. A havan was organized for the martyred CRPF personnel at Arya Samaj Bhavan.

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