Over 31,000 chemist and drug shops in Punjab remained shut today in protest against the alleged harassment caused by state police in its state-wide drive against drug menace.

Punjab Chemists Association had given a call to shut down medical shops in order to express their anger against the state police for allegedly raiding their shops and arresting shop owners under the garb of selling narcotic drugs.

"Except in hospitals, all chemist shops in Punjab are closed today," Punjab Chemists Association President Surjit Mehta said today. He said 31,470 drug shops are association's members across the state. "However, we have allowed shops in hospitals to continue with their operations so that patients do not suffer," he said.