Jewellery shop owners down shutters in Pondy

All jewellery shops in Puducherry remained closed today to mark the industry8217; s protest against the announcement of hike in excise duty on gold in the Union budget.

Posters announcing the strike were pasted on each of all the 300 shops in the town and its peripherals.

This is the third time since the presentation of the budget on March 15 that jewellery shop owners have downed shutters.

A decision on future course of action would be taken by the Association of Jewllery Shops Owners8217; shortly,a section of jewellers said.