Patna: Traders in Buxar, 100km west of here, closed their shutters on Friday and took out a procession in protest against the spurt in crime the last few months.

The business community, accompanied by Opposition leaders, marched through the town under the banner of Bihar Vyawasayik Sangharsh Morcha. At a meeting later, Buxar MLA Sanjay Kumar Tiwari, alias Munna Tiwari, said it was time police took stringent steps to check crime. "A series of murders, loot and extortion has sent shockwaves among businessmen," he said.

Dilip Kumar Verma, Buxar district unit president of the Morcha, said all shops and business establishments were closed on Friday as a mark of protest over the law and order condition in town.

He demanded immediate transfer of superintendent of police Rajesh Kumar. "The SP should have been transferred from here after the attack on the chief minister's convoy on January 12. However, the government remained silent," said a businessman.

Director-general of police K.S. Dwivedi had expressed displeasure at the rise in crime in Buxar at a review meeting in Ara on Thursday. A senior officer said he asked the Buxar SP to dispose of pending cases.