June 17, 2007	Sunday	Jumadi-us-Sani 01, 1428

OKARA, June 16: Enraged villagers threw traffic out of gear for more than two hours on the GT Road near Kissan Adda, some 10 kms from here, in protest against three dacoity incidents in the early hours of Saturday.

Reports said that some two-dozen bandits came to village 24/2-L by two vehicles. Armed bandits entered the houses of Muhammad Rafiq, Munir and Ghulam Muhammad, held inmates hostage, collected Rs200,000 in cash, jewellery worth Rs300,000 and managed to escape.

A large number of villagers came out of their houses after the announcement about dacoities was made on the mosque’s loudspeaker. They later blocked the GT Road for over two hours and also burnt used tyres.

Protesters dispersed peacefully when MMA Syed Gulzar Sibtain, MPA Chaudhry Javid Allauddin and former MPA Chaudhry Ziauddin reached the spot and assured protesters, after a meeting with police officers, that outlaws would be arrested within five days.

No case was registered till the filing of this story.

Sheikhupura range DIG Anwar Virk, who was on his way to Okara to preside over a meeting on crime, was brought to the DPO office through Renala-Satgrah Road due to the blockade of the GT Road.