DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Nov 24: The traders of Commissionary Bazar on Sunday evening closed their shops in protest against an anti-encroachment drive launched by ASP Dera in cooperation with Markazi Anjuman-i-Tajran (MAT).

Thousands of hand-carts parked on both sides of the bazaar in front of the shops had been a continuous traffic hazard.

Moreover, the shopkeepers also displayed their items by making huge dumps around their shops.

The area SSP, during a meeting last week, took the Markazi Anjuman-i-Tajran (MAT) into confidence about giving warning to the shopkeepers.

The ASP, along with the MAT office-bearers, visited all the four main bazaars on Ist of Ramazan and warned the shopkeepers to remove their illegal encroachment before their next visit.

The shopkeepers turned a deaf ear to this warning and did nothing to remove encroachment.

On Sunday evening, a police team, led by ASP Mohammad Yousuf and accompanied by MAT members, conducted a cleanup operation in Commissionary Bazar. Lots of items lying before the shops as encroachment were seized.

It provoked the traders into shutting their business as a mark of protest.

As the atmosphere turned against the ASP and MAT, they took refuge in Police Post No 3.

Later, MAT members tried to open dialogue with the shopkeepers but the latter rejected this offer.