Post-blasts, Ramzan bazaar loses spark

Within a few hours, however, the effect of the blasts was palpable in the bazaar. 8220;This is a place where customers come from Okhla, Seelampur, and places quite far away,8221; adds another shopkeeper Rehmat Ali.

8220;After people watched news of the blasts on TV, they chose to stay at home,8221; said Ali. The bazaar around the stairs of the Jama Masjid, though all lit up, was empty in a new hours.

8220;Look at the stairs,8221; Haji Mian Fayazuddin pointed to the almost deserted stairs of Jama Masjid on Saturday night, usually throbbing with life during Ramzan. 8220;Sannataa hai.8221;

Shopkeepers were also waiting for 8216;instructions8217; from the police.

Mehtab Bhai Zari Wala, president of the Bazaar Chitli Qabar Shopkeepers8217; Association, says, 8220;Soon, calls will start coming from the thana about keeping extra vigil.8221;

Another resident of Lal Quan has asked his wife not to go to the market near Jama Masjid. 8220;Pavement-dwellers were asked to go away. I have asked my family to stay at home,8221; said Mehtaab Ahmed.

With the Indian Mujahideen claiming responsibility, people fear the area might be tense. 8220;In the streets, there is no tension now,8221; says Mehtab Bhai. 8220;Par jab zehen mein galat message jaata hai, usse halaat kharaab hotey hain.8221;

Mehtab Bhai, however, does not think the market will affected in the coming days. 8220;Unlike earlier, when a murder would create terror for a week, these days people remain tense only for a very short while. Then, everything gets normal. Nobody bothers.8221;