LAHORE, May 9: Qila Gujjar Singh police on Monday registered a case against nine policemen for losing Rs1.6 million, the salary of trainee police officials, at the alleged hands of Gojar Khan protesters on May 4.

An inquiry has been ordered to determine whether the cash was looted by the mob or misappropriated by the accused policemen who left the city for the Sihala Police Training College without informing the authorities.

Reserve Inspector Farhat Abbas of the Qila Gujjar Singh Police Lines complained to the police that two ASIs and seven subordinates, who had gone to the Sihala Police Training College and Farooqabad Police Training School to deliver Rs1.9 million salaries to trainee policemen, were bringing Rs1.6 million remaining cash to Lahore a few days ago.

Quoting arrested officials, the complainant said on their return they got trapped in a traffic snarl near Mandara Gojar Khan on May 4 due to road blockades by protesters in connection with power outages.

The protesters, who had already torched two police vehicles and burnt a Wapda office during their clash with the local police, also attacked the Lahore police vehicle, set it on fire and snatched a bag containing cash after thrashing the policemen.

After the matter came to the notice of Lahore police high-ups, the complainant policemen were taken into custody.

A case has been lodged against ASIs Safdar Ali, Mukhtar, counting moharrar Mureed Hussain, Arshad Iqbal, Rashid Minhas, Abbas Ali and two others for showing negligence and losing official cash.