Traders would go on a strike on Thursday against the failure of police to tighten noose around criminals masterminding extortion and loot from Khudiram Bose Memorial Central Jail.

A recent spurt in robberies — six businessmen have been targeted over the past fortnight — has alarmed the business community. On Monday, members of North Bihar Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) convened an emergency meeting to discuss the deteriorating law and order condition in the town. They have decided to go on strike on March 7 (Thursday).

A source said: “Members and office-bearers of the NBCC, along with hundreds of traders and businessmen from Suttapatti, Jawaharlal Road, Tilak Maidan Road, Andigola Road and Sonarpatti, attended the meet and discussed at length the deteriorating law and order condition in the town. The traders have decided to go on strike on Thursday to protest against the failure of the police to check criminals who are targeting the businessmen.”

A young trader and member of Traders’ Co-ordination Committee Dilip Kumar said: “Businessmen in Muzaffarpur have become an easy target and the police officers have turned a blind eye to the situation. Traders are left with no option but to agitate or wind up their business activities from Muzaffarpur.”

The police claimed that they, too, were trying their best to check the rise in the crime graph.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rajesh Kumar said: “Criminals lodged at Khudiram Bose Memorial Central Jail are targeting businessmen in the town.

“According to our investigations, Mojelal Sahni and Robin Rai have been identified as the masterminds behind a number of robberies. The duo were released from jail in January.”

He added: “A team of 15 probationary sub-inspectors led by deputy superintendent (city) Upendra Prasad has been formed to investigate the cases.”

A senior police officer said Prasad and acting jail superintendent Mohammed Iftekar Ahmad have interrogated a number of prisoners — including Kanhai Patel, Arvind Rai and Gaurav — lodged at the jail. “In the course of interrogation, the criminals revealed the names of their associates who have been carrying out the criminal activities at their behest,” added the officer.

Ahmad said security had been beefed up at the jail and a number of prisoners and undertrials have been shifted to the terrorist cell. “Visitors are also being physically checked and quizzed before being allowed to meet the prisoners,” he added.

SSP Rajesh Kumar said the police would soon request district magistrate (DM) Anupam Kumar to transfer 20 prisoners from Khudiram Bose Memorial Central Jail to Bhagalpur Central Jail to isolate them from their associates in the town.

“The city DSP is finalising the list and it would be placed before the DM soon,” said the SSP, adding that patrolling has been inten- sified in the commercial areas of the town like Kanholi, Akharghat and Saraiyaganj.