FAISALABAD, May 30: Students blocked traffic for about an hour, pelted stones at vehicles and burnt tyres on Monday on Sargodha Road in protest against the death of a fellow in an accident. Imran of the Apprenticeship College of Faisalabad was crushed by a speeding bus when he was trying to cross the road.

His college fellows became infuriated and gathered on the main intersection of the area. They blocked traffic by erecting barricades and burning tyres. They also tried to set a bus to fire but police intervened and saved the vehicle.

They claimed that some eyewitnesses had informed the police but it reached the spot after half an hour, giving an ample time to the driver to escape along with his vehicle.

Students put up strong resistance and exchanged hot words with the police when they tried to take away the body. They announced that they would continue their protest and block the highway till the arrest of the driver. They also refused to hand over the body to the police.

A police contingent rushed to the spot and assured the protesters that the driver and the vehicle would be taken into custody within 24 hours. On this assurance, they dispersed and shifted the body to the Allied Hospital for autopsy.

Workers of the area and some shopkeepers also joined the students and raised slogans against the reckless driving of vehicles.

They held the district administration responsible for a series of fatal accidents, and demanded that the chief minister should take cognizance of the situation.

SUICIDE: A couple allegedly committed suicide over financial problems in Ghafoorabad here on Monday.