PESHAWAR, Aug 29: Security was beefed up in and around the main shopping centres of the provincial metropolis ahead of Eidul Fitr.

The Saddar Bazaar remained sealed for the second consecutive day on Monday and police remained alert on all the entry and exit points of the markets.

An official said that text messages by cellular phones abut entry of would-be suicide bombers created confusion but police were alert to foil any such attempt. He said that rumours had been spread since long but they had no confirmed reports in this regard.

Dost Mohammad, The SHO of West Cantonment police station, said that at least 40 policemen in plain clothes and 10 policewomen had been deployed in the bazaars to keep check on movement of suspected people.

"We have tightened security in the entire area and entry of vehicles has been banned for the purpose to minimise the chances of sabotage acts," he said.

However, he complained about the traders' organisations and said that they were not cooperating with police and forcing them to open the roads.