Traders in Muzaffarpur kept their establishments closed on Tuesday in protest against the growing menace they face regularly from extortionists and local ganglords.

The commercial centres of Suttapatti, Sharaffa Mandi and others were shut. The traders were responding to a bandh called by Vijendra Choudhary, a former legislator and businessman himself, demanding immediate action against the ganglords and extortionists active in the town.

Gold trader Vikram Sharaff said the extortionists secretly demand money from businessmen of the town.

Choudhary said Khudiram Bose Memorial Central Jail in Muzaffarpur had become a haven for the extortionists as they target the traders from their cells with the help of accomplices outside.

Chairman of North Bihar Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kailashnath Bhartiya said the businessmen are frightened owing to the spurt in loot incidents and the law and order situation has worsened.