July 09, 2007	Monday	Jamadi-us-Sani 23, 1428

MULTAN, July 8: Hundreds of residents of Basti Jamusabad, Kabirwala, staged a protest demonstration on Sunday against police for not providing them protection against dacoits who have twice raided the dwelling in three weeks.

In the first raid, the dacoits reportedly deprived the residents of cash and valuables worth hundreds of thousands of rupees in eight strikes in a single night.

But the latest attack by the gang on Saturday night was repulsed by the residents who retaliated the indiscriminate firing by the dacoits.

On Sunday, hundreds of villagers blocked the road and raised slogans against police accusing them of inaction and negligence.

Protesters lead by Mian Aslam, Akbar, Mian Asghar, Naeem Ashraf, Umar Farooq and Muhammad Akram, alleged police had failed to ensure security of life and property in the area.

One of the protesters, Mian Manzoor, said the police registered only one FIR following the earlier raid in which dacoits had actually looted eight houses.

He said the victims had also approached Khanewal DPO for registration of separate cases and action against the outlaws but all in vain.

He alleged that despite the handing over of some of the outlaws to the police by the villagers, no action was initiated against them, rather the accused were later released.

He warned that if the police took no action against the dacoits, the villagers would block Khanewal-Multan road on July 14, besides staging a protest demonstration and a sit-in in front of the office of regional police officer, Multan.

Khanewal DPO Shahid Haneef, Kabirwala Saddar DSP Malik Muhammad Yousaf and SHO concerned were not available for their comments.