Lucknow, Oct 16 (IANS): Vegetable vendors and fruit shops across Meerut downed shutters on Monday after the president of the Fruit Vendors Association Raheesuddin was shot dead earlier in the day.

The angry traders also blocked the Meerut-Delhi Road and raised anti-police and anti-government slogans.

Demanding the arrest of the killers, they have since served an ultimatum to the local police to nab the criminals at the earliest or brace for a long-drawn and extensive agitation from Tuesday.

The trader was killed at the Naveen Mandi at Delhi Road in TP Nagar in the morning when two unidentified men riding a bike came to his shop, pumped bullets into him and drove off.

The fruit and vegetable vendors had a spat with the police as well, as the latter tried to stop the mob from blocking the busy Delhi Road. Police had to use mild force to get them off the road.

Senior administration and police officers have assured the traders of bringing the killers to justice at the earliest.