Patna, Feb. 15: Traders of Dehri-on-Sone in Rohtas district downed their shutters and demonstrated in front of the local police station for over three hours in protest against loot of 15kg of silver from Pawan Kumar, a jeweller, early this morning.

The shops and business establishments in the main market remained closed. After passing through the thoroughfares of the city, the protesters demonstrated in front of Dehri police station. They also assembled near Grand Trunk Road and forced shopkeepers to close their shops. They burnt tyres and tried to block traffic. The agitators also tried to disrupt the functioning of the government offices and commercial establishments.

The situation was brought under control after the intervention of Shahabad range deputy inspector-general Sushil Khopde. He assured the agitating businessmen that the criminals would be arrested soon.

Khopde said the motorcycle-borne criminals waylaid the jeweller and looted 15kg of silver from him at Mohan Bigha under Dehri police station at around 7.25am. The jeweller, a resident of Choudhary Tola, was on his way to Dehri railway station. His employees, Ravi Kumar and Raju Kumar were accompanying him.

Pawan told the police that though he and his employees raised an alarm, the criminals managed to escape.

Traders said the jewellers have stopped coming to Dehri because of the deteriorating law and order situation.

“If such incidents are not checked immediately, we will be forced to launch an agitation,” said a businessman, on condition of anonymity.