KARACHI, April 19: Police on Tuesday rounded up 30 members of the Karachi Electronics Dealers’ Association after hours long violence in Saddar. An official car (GH-0011) belonging to the Governor’s House was set on fire while stones were pelted on the passing vehicles by the protesters. Windscreens of several police mobiles were also damaged in the violence.

Detained office-bearers included KEDA President Waheed Memon, who was kept at the Preedy police station. A large number of shopkeepers also throng the police station where Waheed Memon was detained.

Earlier in the evening, officials of the Industrial Crime Unit along with Town Investigation Officer of Jamshad Town who were in plain clothes picked up four persons from the Electronics Market.

According to reports, some suspects arrested by the police earlier had identified some other shopkeepers for their alleged involvement in the trade of stolen or snatched cell phone sets.

However, after witnessing

the reaction by the KEDA, officials of the Industrial Crime Unit denied their role in the arrests.

On the other hand, a senior police official confirmed the presence of the ICU in the raid.

Eyewitnesses said that police officials in plain clothes went into the market along with three suspects.

Upon their identification, police picked up four shopkeepers. As they were coming out of the market, shopkeepers tried to set free the suspects from the police custody. Finally, shopkeepers blocked the way of the police mobile.

Police warned that they would open fire if the shopkeepers did not clear the way for police. Subsequently, the three police mobiles and a private car used by the ICU took the four shopkeepers to Jamshed Quarters investigation wing, sources in the police said.

The arrests, led to protest and shopkeepers at the market pulled down their shutters resulting in the closure of the Electronics Market. Some persons torched a government car (Honda Accord) near the Belgium Square located close to the Regal Chowk. They also erected barricades on the roads leading to Abdullah Haroon Road, where the market is situated.

The crowed also set wooden crates on fire after placing them on the main road. A visit to the troubled area showed that the police managed to contain the violence limiting it to the Electronics Market. Rest of the market in Saddar continued to function normally.

TPO Saddar Dr Sanaullah Abbasi, who was at the spot, ordered removal of the barricades.

The normal traffic was restored after two-hour closure of the main thoroughfare. However, apart from the TPO no senior police official was visible at the troubled spot.