Trade protests shut Delhi markets, schools

New Delhi: Police are on high alert on Tuesday, amid fears of violence during a day-long-strike in New Delhi, called by traders to protest against the closure of illegal shops.

The shutdown comes a day after the country's highest court rejected a government petition to allow about 40,000 shops operating illegally in residential areas of New Delhi to remain open until the end of the year.

Delhi police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said "We have deployed all the police force available to us across the city today. Maintaining law and order is the priority for us. We are on high alert."

Markets and businesses were closed and schools ordered to shut for two days.

A three-day strike last week by protesting traders shut markets and businesses across the city of 14 million people and sparked violent protests in some areas as demonstrators burned and stoned city buses and blocked traffic.