March 28, 2008	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 19, 1429

ISLAMABAD, March 27: Robbery at a shop located in I-10 Markaz on Thursday triggered a protest demonstration by the traders who blocked a road and set waste material on fire.

Four armed persons riding a white-coloured car parked their vehicle close to the Business Plaza and raided a shop — Super Tel.

Holding the shopkeepers at gunpoint, the robbers started looting cash, both local currency and US dollars, besides depriving the victims of four cellphones and cards.

After seizing the cash and valuable, the culprits escaped in their car.

Meanwhile, the angry traders gathered in the market and protested against the robbery incident. Later, they marched to the edge of the Markaz where they chanted slogans against the capital police who, they claimed, had completely failed to protect the life and property of the citizens.

The protesters gathered waste material, including cartons, and set it on fire to mark their protest.

The Sabzi Mandi police reached the spot and started negotiating with the demonstrators to end the protest. After about half an hour, the traders concluded their demonstration on an assurance by the police that a case would be registered against the robbers who would be arrested soon.

According to the police, the robbery victim claimed that he was deprived of cash and valuables worth over Rs1 million. But the police believed that the estimated loss was not more than Rs200,000.