May 22, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 16, 1429

SHEIKHUPURA, May 21: Scores of villagers blocked traffic on Lahore-Sharaqpur Road for three hours in protest against the murder of a patwari, Safdar Ali, on Wednesday.

Reports said Safdar Ali was standing at Faizpur bus stop when his rivals Ahsan, Nawaz Imran and others riding two cars came there and opened fire, killing the patwari on the spot. The accused managed their escape.

After the incident, the victim’s family members and villagers gathered on road and blocked traffic by parking tractor-trollies.

The three-hour blockade caused a great deal of inconvenience to commuters.

After receiving information, the factory area police, led by DPO Zaeem Iqbal Sheikh and the Ferozewala circle DSP, reached the spot and got restored the traffic, assuring early arrest of the accused.

The motive behind the incident was an old enmity. Safdar Ali was pursuing a criminal case against the accused.

HELD: Sharaqpur police claimed on Wednesday to have arrested four proclaimed offenders.

The police received information that POs Farman Bhatti, Asgher Bhatti, Mustafa alias Mufti and their accomplice were on their way to Bhandara by a car. A police team conducted a raid and arrested them. Further investigation is under way.

YOUTH KILLED: A youth was run over and killed by a wheat harvestor at Dera Sharif here on Wednesday.

Akhtar, 15, was working on the machine when his clothes entangled in it. He died on the spot.