Normal life was thrown out of gear in Delhi as irate traders torched buses, caused traffic jams and clashed with the police on Wednesday, stepping up their protests against sealing of unauthorised shops. Police had to lathicharge violent protestors to control the situation.
Thousands of shops were shut cross the capital to mark the protests against a Supreme Court order to close businesses deemed illegal under building laws in the federal city-state of 14 million.
The major markets, meanwhile, continue to remain shut.
(Left) A homeless man sits in front of a closed shoe-shop emblazoned with an advertisement featuring star Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar during the 72-hour traders' strike in New Delhi.
Photograph: Raveendran / AFP / Getty Images