Guwahati: Shops in Ganeshguri were shut for two hours on Tuesday to protest rising crime and encroachment.The shutdown, from 11 am to 1 pm, was called by 10 organisations, including the Greater Ganeshguri Chamber of Commerce, Greater Ganeshguri Citizens’ Forum and Ganeshguri Mahila Samiti.Protesters demanded action against alleged illegal street vendors, prostitution rackets, drug abuse and unruly traffic, saying the problems worsened over the past two years despite repeated complaints.“We have submitted memorandums to the CM’s office, the office of the district commissioner and police authorities. We have given them 15 days to resolve the issues, failing which we will launch a bigger protest,” said Niranjan Kakoti, president of the chamber.Protesters said encroached pavements force students of nearby institutions, including Dispur College and Gopal Bodo Higher Secondary School, to walk on busy roads.Sanjay Singh, a resident and shop owner of the area, alleged a rise in thefts and chain-snatching between Ganesh Mandir and Ganeshguri Point.
