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

LAHORE, June 16: Traders of Qainchi Amar Sidhu main bazaar held a protest demonstration after four robbers looted two jewellery shops, injured two traders on resistance and fired shots in the air for 20 minutes in the congested locality.

The protest lasted for more than two hours as angry traders lashed out at the police for poor security and patrolling.

Eyewitnesses and office-bearers of Anjuman-i-Tajiran said the robbers, two of them bearded, came to a jewellery shop owned by one Asad at around 2pm. Two of them entered the shop and held Zafar and his employee Qasim at gunpoint.

They collected cash and jewellery worth Rs1.5 million, two cell phones and a licensed pistol. In the meantime, two women related to Zafar came there but the outlaws standing guard outside the shop asked them to visit later.

Mohsin, owner of another jewellery shop looted by robbers, told this reporter: “They (the women) went to the shop of Zafar’s brother Nadeem and informed him about the suspected people present in the shop. Nadeem took a pistol and came out of his shop but the robbers in the meantime had already entered my shop, located opposite to Zafar’s.”

He said Nadeem challenged the robbers by firing shots in the air. The felons came out of the shop and opened fire. Three bullets hit Nadeem while Asif, the brother of Mohsin, who was present in his shop (Makka Jewellers), sustained a bullet injury in his leg.

“The robbers fired shots in the air, creating panic among the traders and customers who ran for their lives,” said Sheikh Mahboob, an eyewitness.

The intruders, who had already collected Rs100,000 in cash and a cell phone from Makka Jewellers, snatched two motorcycles from passers-by and escaped with booty worth over Rs1.6 million.

The injured were rushed to the Lahore General Hospital where Nadeem was operated upon.

Soon after the incident, traders closed their shops and lodged a protest against the incident. They demanded that the police should deploy personnel at the bazaar, arrest the robbers and recover the snatched valuables.

Mr Mahboob said emergency 15 police received the call after 20 minutes and it took them 20 more minutes to reach the spot.

Kot Lakhpat division police officers also rushed to the spot to avert any untoward situation.

Anjuman president Qurban Ali Butt said the incident took place despite Muhafiz force patrol in the bazaar.

“It is interesting to note that Muhafiz force officials, who visit the bazaar after 12 noon daily, did not turn up today,” he said.

Qurban claimed that one of the suspected robbers had come to Yasir Jewellers three days ago and the owner’s son asked the Muhafiz force to interrogate and search him. But, the officials turned down his request, he added.

He said two robbers deprived a woman of three tolas of jewellery three days ago in Koh-i-Noor Market, adjacent to the main bazaar. They hurt her eras while snatching earrings in haste, he added.

Kot Lakhpat police registered a case on the complaint of Nadeem.