A deserted road during Burla Merchants’ Association’s day-long market strike. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, July 19: The merchants’ association of Burla today observed a daylong market strike to protest against the alleged kidnapping of a 27-year-old woman at gunpoint on Tuesday.

All shops and business establishments of the town remained closed, although government offices ran smoothly and there were no restriction on vehicular movement. The residents expressed resentment that only one person, who is the main accused, had been arrested so far.

The mob demanded the arrest of the other accused involved in the incident. They gheraoed the police station and blocked the Mumbai-Calcutta National Highway for more than three hours near PC bridge yesterday, accusing the authorities of not taking the incident seriously. Today, the merchants’ association observed the strike.

On Tuesday, the woman, who is a teacher at a private school in Burla, was kidnapped at a gunpoint. Dharamveer Singh and two of his associates went to the school and called the victim outside. When she came out, they took her away in a vehicle at gunpoint.

Dharamveer proposed his love to the victim in the vehicle as his associate took her photographs. However, when she raised an alarm, they dropped her on the way.

The father of the victim lodged a complaint with the police on Tuesday evening and Dharamveer was taken into custody.

“We condemn the incident and have observed a daylong market strike. Shops and the business establishments have been closed,” said vice-president of the Burla Merchants’ Association Shyam Sunder Agrawal.

Inspector in charge of Burla police station Mihir Panda said: “Three persons were involved in the incident. The main accused has already been arrested. Special police teams have been formed to nab the other accused.”