Business and trade came to a standstill in the bustling Khwairamband Bazar area in Imphal city during a 24-hour shutdown called by the the bazar shop owners on Monday to draw the attention of the government to “various problems” faced by them of late.

The shutdown, which started from 12am on Monday, saw shopkeepers keep their shutters down in areas such as Dharamsala Road, Thangal Bazar, Khoyathong road, Paona Bazar, BT Road, Naga Mapal, RIMS Road and NJ Avenue among others.

The bazaar area houses both retail and wholesale shops besides hotels and restaurants and is usually abuzz with activities.

However, everything was quiet on Monday and no untoward incident was reported till late evening.

A press release issued by big and small bazaar shop owners on Sunday said they called the shutdown because of the various problems faced by them in the market without specifying the problems, few bazaar residents said the shop owners called the shutdown to "convey" their concern over the "worrying" law and order in the market areas