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GUJRANWALA, June 11: Scores of people, including women and children, residing in Khiali and its adjacent colonies on Tuesday stormed into two paper and board manufacturing factories and dragged the owner for not controlling smoke-emitting.
Reports said the people swarmed factories on the Sheikhupura Road owned by former councillor Muhammad Rafiq and his brother Muhammad Husain and demanded them that they should shift their factories outside the localities so as not to expose them to pollution.
On their refusal, the protesters dragged the ex-councillor on the road. They blocked traffic on the road and chanted slogans against the factory owners.
Civil Lines DSP Dr Suleman reached there with elite force and heavy police contingent and directed the mob to disperse peacefully. The mob pelted stones on the police which resorted to baton-charge and tear gas. At least half a dozen people sustained bruises in the clash.
SSP Muhammad Aslam Tareen, district Naib Nazim Gauhar Zaman and other officials came to the protesters’ rescue and listened to their complaint. The people complained the factory owners had been burning rice shell and husk for manufacturing paper and straw board for the last six months, creating smoke pollution which was hazardous to health. They alleged the gas department had disconnected their commercial connection as they were defaulters.
When contacted, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited general manager confirmed the two brothers owed Rs16.3 million collectively and their commercial connection had been severed.
The officials urged the owners to shift their factories outside the populated area.
On their assurance, the people dispersed after about two hours.
ARRESTED: The district police during a special campaign in May arrested 174 proclaimed offenders, 249 court fugitives, dacoits and pushers with illicit arms, looted goods and narcotics.
This was stated by SSP Muhammad Aslam Tareen while speaking at the monthly meeting at his office here on Tuesday.
The SSP claimed the police had recovered booty worth Rs3.6 million and a huge quantity of weapons.
Meanwhile, Dhullay police claimed to have busted a four-member gang of dacoits which looted cash and valuables from the house of an expatriate.
A police spokesman said accused Kashif, Shaukat, Shabbir and Bashir took away cash, gold ornaments and valuables worth Rs800,000 from Raja Muhammad Nazir’s house.
On a tip-off, the police raided an outhouse and arrested them. They also claimed to have recovered the looted goods and handed over those to the owner.
