Shops shut as Congress, Team Anna protest cop’s murder

Shops in this Madhya Pradesh capital and several cities were closed as the opposition Congress called for a shutdown to protest the killing of Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Narendra Kumar. Members of the Anna Hazare-led India Against Corruption also began a three-day sit-in.

The shutdown, in place till 3 p.m, appeared to have been effective in several parts of the state.

In Bhopal, Congress leaders and workers moved around in groups to ensure that their protest was a success. Few passenger vehicles were seen in the city.

In Indore, Congress workers burnt an effigy of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Gwalior too saw shops shut and private schools declaring a holiday.

In Burhanpur district, Congress workers held prayer ceremonies in front of Narendra Kumar’s photograph.

The issue was raised in the Madhya Pradesh assembly too, leading to adjournment of the house.

India Against Corruption also started a three-day sit-in here.

Kumar, a 2009 batch IPS officer was brutally killed in Morena on the day of Holi, March 8, when he was trying to stop a tractor loaded with illegally-mined stones.