Glowing Markets, But Business Down: Unusual Prayagraj Eid Amid Panic After Atiq-Ashraf Murders
Killings of Atiq Ahmed & Ashraf threw normal life out of gear for residents in Prayagraj ahead of Eid, but things are getting back on track and people are readying for festival despite low business.
Prayagraj: The residents of Prayagraj are currently facing an unusual situation, unlike the typical excitement that surrounds the approaching festival of Eid. The recent killing of the notorious mafia brothers, Atiq Ahmed and his brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf, has left the people feeling uneasy, though there is no Section 144 anymore and people are back on the roads. Although no untoward incidents have been reported since the double murder in police custody and on live TV shocked the nation, the residents remain concerned about the law and order situation, particularly on the day of Eid.
With Eid just a week away, the double murder has left its mark on Prayagraj. ABP Live took to the city's markets and streets to gauge how the recent developments have affected the local businesses and residents as a whole.
Chowk's Ghanta Ghar – Crowded Market But Without Much Business
The significance of the old Prayagraj remains just as strong today as it did years ago. One of the most congested areas within the walled city, Chowk is renowned for offering a wide variety of shopping options. During the holy month of Ramadan, the market remains bustling until late at night with people rushing to purchase different items. As Eid approaches, the crowds continue to grow, making for a lively atmosphere.
Despite the recent double murder incident, which led to the market remaining closed for two days (Sunday-Monday), a decent crowd was visible when it reopened. ABP Live approached several shopkeepers and buyers to know if the crowd means any increase in business.
Next to the famous Baba Loknath Dwar, a shopkeeper was sitting in his dry fruits shop that also sells other things one would require on Eid. Asked how the sales were going, he said that it had gone down.
"Bikul acchi nahi chal rahi hai. Sab manda pad gaya (Not going good, everything has gone down)," he said. "All because of what happened on Saturday (Atiq-Ashraf murder).”
Earlier, the markets used to stay open till 10-10.30 PM, but now “we have to wrap up by 9-9:30”, said the shopkeeper, adding that he didn’t expect mafia don and former legislator Atiq, who was not unknown to anyone in the city, to “be killed the way he was”.
Osama Mazhar, who owns a cosmetic shop in the busy market area, also said his business declined “a lot”, because “market bohot kharab ho gayi (market has disrupted)”.
He further highlighted the impact of the situation by stating that “I was sleeping at my home at noon today when I should have been at the shop” during the last days of Ramadan.
“Allah can only bring my business back, praying that everything gets better,” said a desperate Mohsin.
The shopkeeper of a general store too complained of low business and said the number of things he used to sell normally has reduced.
Fruits do brisk business during the month-long Ramadan. But not this time. “Hamara dhandha bilkul zero ho gaya hai zero, kuch nahi bik rahi (My business has become zero, nothing is getting sold),” said an old fruit seller. Another vendor said despite selling fruits at double the rate, he was not getting the required margin as the overall purchasing has been so low.
"Earlier, we used to earn plenty by selling for Rs 10 what we bought for Rs 10. Now, nothing is happening despite selling it for Rs 20," he added.
Maaz Ansari runs a shop of ittars, considered auspicious on Eid. He said he is doing only “50 per cent” business, and closes his shop early now because there are no customers.
“Earlier, business hours would stretch until midnight during the last days of Ramadan, but we close shops by 10 pm now,” said Ansari
Asked how they came to know about Atiq's killing, all shopkeepers said there was a commotion in Chowk as soon as the news came in as the hospital where he was shot was not far away.
Anticipating tension, everybody ran home immediately after hearing the news that night, closing the market, the shopkeepers said.
Speaking to ABP Live, they specified that police were not asking them to close their shops early, and that it was voluntary.
To maintain security in the area, police personnel in groups of two or more were seen at different turns and on the roads. Asked to comment on the security situation, most policemen refused to share information, though one of them said everything was fine, and there was no problem with the market timings.
Roshan Bagh: A Similar Story
The Eid story used to be of similar excitement at the Roshan Bagh market in the Khuldabad area as it would see heavy crowds. But the turnout has sharply decreased at shops in the last few days of Ramadan. Local residents and shopkeepers said there was no communal tension but the double murder did create panic in the area and dented business and festivities.
A sweet shop owner sitting with decorated sewaiyan and jalebis looked disheartened as he described the daily business of the last few days. “The entire business got ruined."
A vendor next door agreed: "Atiq was a mafia and his killing was nothing personal to me or anyone. But still, people are not turning up in large numbers to buy things. The incident has spoilt the entire festive mood."
Though estimating the market business during these festivities and the losses incurred is difficult, one fruit vendor said the loss figure would be “in several lakhs”. He lamented the situation, stating that Eid was a major festival and a time for significant shopping, with the market staying open until 2-2:30 am on the day of the full moon. However, this year, things seemed different.
‘Let Eid Pass Safely’
While the residents of Prayagraj say things are getting back to normal, concerns about the law and order situation remain for the day of Eid with the people praying for a safe Eid. “Hoping that Eid passes safely,” said Arshad Kafi, a resident of the Chowk area.
“Strange atmosphere” shrouded the city as the news of the murder spread, said Kafi whose residence shares the same locality as the Colvin Hospital, where the mafia brothers were being taken to for a medical check-up when they were shot dead.
A woman resident of the Muslim-majority area of Kareli, who did not want to be named, said there are concerns and everyone is praying that no untoward incident happens on Eid. She said she believes “things will remain normal” if there is no “major reaction (as a community)” to the double murder incident.
“As a community, we didn’t have a strong reaction, so if left to us, things will be normal,” said the woman, who described the murder as “chilling”.
Mohammad Arif, an advocate at the Allahabad High Court, does not think there will be any problem now. “If something had to happen it would have happened the night he was shot dead or the ensuing day when burial took place,” he told ABP Live.
Things Coming ‘Back On Track’
While people have their concerns, things have already started getting back to normal with people performing routine jobs. One of the main contributors towards normalcy, the local residents believe, was the restoration of the internet which remained suspended for two days.
Normal activities did take a hit for a couple of days but with the internet restored, things are “back on track”, said the woman resident from Kareli quoted above.
The mosques are shining in bright light, and residents and traders are decorating their houses to celebrate Eid, even though the double murder is still part of daily conversations.
The roads of Prayagraj are buzzing again. At the time of writing this report on Wednesday, students were back in schools and colleges, which they skipped the last two days fearing tension in the city. The police deployment also continues to ensure law and order.
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