Angry traders ransacked two Reliance Fresh outlets soon after the stores were opened, forcing authorities to order their closure as a precautionary measure.
Traders under the banner of a state-level federation stormed two outlets at Lewis Road and Gopabandhu Square and caused substantial damage to shops, besides attacking some of their employees, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sarat Sahu told PTI.
“Immediately after the incidents, the authorities ordered closure of the Reliance Fresh outlets to prevent any further flare up,” he said.
Following the incidents, the Reliance management did not go for the scheduled opening of another store in Laxmi Sagar area in the city. The three outlets were earlier scheduled to be opened on September 15 but their inauguration was deferred following protests from various traders’ bodies.
Today’s incident was almost a repeat of scenes witnessed in parts of Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi in the last few days.
The development could also impact Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Retail’s plans to invest about Rs 3,000 crore for rolling out retail and fresh food stores in Orissa.
Reliance officials could not be contacted, but sources said company officials were told by authorities yesterday to keep their shutters down amid reports of political opposition.
Company sources said 11 Reliance Fresh outlets were to be opened here, and nine in neighbouring Cuttack. The company plans to open 235 outlets in the state.
The move, however, evoked resistance from local traders with ‘Nikhil Orissa Utha Dokani and Khyudra Vyavashyi Mahasangha’ spearheading an agitation against the chain, saying it would hit the livelihood of seven lakh small traders and their family members.