The Kanpur police have registered a criminal case against 22 traders for putting up posters and hoardings comparing PM Modi to North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.

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An official told Hindustan Times that they the traders were trying to highlight the issue of a deluge of small coins affecting their businesses.

The police have also arrested Praveen Kumar, a resident of Shardha Nagar in Kanpur for putting up the hoardings. An FIR was filed under section 32(3) of the UP Special Powers Act, section 153A and Section 505 IPC.

Superintendent of police (south) Ashok Verma confirmed Kumar’s arrest and said others would be nabbed soon.

Meanwhile, a trade leader said they’ve decided not to celebrate Diwali because of the arrest.

The hoardings had Modi and Kim side by side, with Kim saying he will ‘end the world’ and Modi saying he will ‘end all business’. The posters surfaced on Wednesday morning in parts of the city where BJP were due to hold a meeting.

The traders put up the posters after banks reportedly refused to take deposits in coins. Many traders are apparently left with coins worth Rs 10-15 lakh each, and Rs 200 crore in coins is currently in circulation in Kanpur.

The sudden influx of coins forced traders to pay salaries to employees in coins.

Raju Khanna, a traders’ association leader and one of those named in the case said: ““We all are Modi supporters. If the change (coins) is ruining us and our businesses what option did we have.

He added: “Traders are exchanging coins at 25% of their value under the batta system to get currency notes to keep their businesses afloat. Now, it is hurting us badly.”

Along with not celebrating Diwali, the traders are planning a major agitation which will include dumping coins en masse at the Gandhi statue in Phool Bagh.