Thaindian News

New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) A day after India’s financial and entertainment hub Mumbai was hit by three serial blasts, the usual bustle in the busy markets here was missing Thursday.

The popular Sarojini Nagar market in south Delhi bore a barren look. This market had witnessed a bomb blast in 2005 that killed 40 people.

“Despite the strict security arrangements made, many people have kept away from the market. Hundreds of people visit the market even during weekdays but it was a miss today,” Arjun Singh, a curtains shop owner in Sarojini Nagar, told IANS.

Khan market, one of the posh markets in the national capital, was also put on strict vigil.

“We have circulated the Delhi Police notice to all the shopkeepers in the market and we have 24 Closed Circuit Television cameras,” Sanjiv Mehra, president of Khan market traders association, told IANS.

The Delhi Police increased vigil in all crowded places.

“Additional police forces are deployed in all market areas like Connaught Place, Mehrauli, Karol Bagh, Sarojini Nagar and Chandni Chowk. Even big malls in and around the city have been alerted,” a police officer told IANS.

Delhi Police have advised people to exercise a high degree of caution, to monitor the surroundings and to avoid visiting markets.

Public should inform police if they find any suspicious object, person or vehicle, the officer added.

But shopkeepers were hopeful of normalcy soon.

“Usually people are scared after such incidents. After two days, everything will be back to normal,” said Sandeep Jha, a shopkeeper in Greater Kailash I.

Seventeen people were killed and 131 injured in Wednesday’s blasts. The three blasts that rocked central and south Mumbai took place in Dadar, Zaveri Bazaar and Opera House localities.