Coimbatore : Following continued seizure of gold and silver ornaments by the election department, the most recent being that of 149 kgs of gold bars last night in the city, nearly 600 jewellers downed their shutters in protest against the action that adversely affected their business.

The region being a major jewellery market, the flying squad and Static Surveillance Team of election department have seized a huge quantity of gold and silver ornament being brought from Mumbai for being supplied to the jewellers here and in Salem.

Though the department returned the ornaments after showing the relevant documents, the jewellers claimed that their business was affected due to the delay in receiving the ornaments.

The department has seized 149 kgs of gold bars, worth Rs 48 crore last night in the city, reportedly being taken to jewellers for making ornaments and over 50 ornament makers had reached the collectorate, where the vehicle was parked..

Since there were no proper documents, the gold was handed over to the administration and kept in the treasury. Moreover, this was done only during election time, department sources said.

Protesting against the continued seizure, gold jewel manufacturers association gave a call to down the shutters to protest against the seizure and return of the ornaments after more than one day affecting the business.

According to association sources, the manufacturers have deals with State Trading Corporation, which after receiving payment used to supply the gold bars through their private transporting agency, with a pass to deliver the goods to the jewellers.

However, there was inordinate delay in returning the gold, which affected the making and supply as ornaments and further business, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the election department sources said that it was their duty to check the goods and the delay to return was due to the huge quantity. Going through the documents and weighing was a tedious process.

Once everything was cleared by IT and Customs officials, the seized materials were returned without further delay, they maintained..