Gaya: Reopening of shops and other business establishments helped restore normality in the town on Monday after the three-day general strike, the longest in living memory of Bodhgaya residents.

But uneasiness was palpable all around, as the prospect of losing customers haunted almost all businessmen. People affected by the new traffic rules that triggered the strike took out a candle march on Sunday evening.

"The lodging of criminal cases against nearly 24 named and 150 unnamed bandh supporters has somewhat terrified the local population," said a resident.

On the flip side of the unrest, a video clip being circulated in the social media suggests that at least some of the visitors took a liking to the bandh. In the video, a foreign tourist, while denying any major inconvenience caused by the general strike, said the place became much quieter during bandh days. A sizeable number of tourists/pilgrims visit the place in search of peace and for them, the general strike symbolised tranquility.

The new traffic rule, according to senior superintendent of police (SSP) Garima Malik rule will effectively be implemented and its violators will be punished.

"Officials tasked with the implementation will be under constant monitor," said the SSP.

Several bank branches are located in the restricted area and most bank customers, including elderly citizens, walked the distance between Node 1 and the banks. "Banks transacted more than normal business," said a bank official, unauthorised to speak to the media.

Nagrik Vikas Manch chairman Suresh Singh is worried about the future of business in Bodhgaya. "It is a double whammy for Bodhgaya businessmen," said Singh. "The tourist footfall has already dipped on account of explosions and the draconian prohibition laws. And now, the ban on vehicle entry has added to our woes."

Favouring exemption for foreign tourists from the prohibition ambit, Singh said for most foreign visitors, liquor was part of the regular menu. "In the pre-prohibition days, most visitors preferred beer over mineral water." His contacts in Japan say that the Japanese raised the prohibition issue during chief minister Nitish Kumar's recent visit to that country. But the CM refused to budge on the issue of granting exemption to foreigners visiting Bihar.