Pulwama attack: Odisha traders observe market shutdown

Bhubaneswar, Feb 18 (IANS) Markets and business establishments remained closed across Odisha in accordance with a Bharat Bandh call given by the Confederation of All India Traders.The bandh was called to express solidarity with the families of the CRPF troopers killed in the Jammu and Kashmir terror attack last week.Over 194 organisations under the Federation of All Odisha Traders' Association (FAOTA) participated in the peaceful trade shutdown.Essential items and public transport had been kept out of it.Demanding action against the perpetrators of the attack, FAOTA general secretary Sudhakar Panda said, "An attack on our jawans is an attack on the nation. We stand with the government on the security of the nation. But now the families of the martyrs also need support."Panda added that the FAOTA will try and provide monetary help to families of Constable Manoj Kumar Behera and Havaldar Prasanna Kumar Sahu, the two troopers from Odisha who were killed in the attack.
--IANS cd/rtp/bg