HYDERABAD: Parts of Latifabad shut down on Monday after groups of activists started firing into the air causing a great deal of panic, fear and harassment.

It was stated that the activists had reacted over the removal of a banner, calling for declaring Tuesday a public holiday on account of the death anniversary of Hazrat Abubakar Siddique (RA), from the Latifabad flyover.

The banner was stated to have been displayed by a banned religious outfit.

Angry over the removal of the banner, groups of activists resorted to heavy firing into the air forcing traders and shopkeepers to pull down shutters in Latifabad units No. 7, 8 and 12, which are busy commercial areas. No one was wounded in the firing.

The Latifabad police picked up two bike-riders suspecting them of involvement in the firing. They identified the suspects as Ghaffar and Abdullah.

The police said their bike developed some fault and stopped while they were fleeing the affected area.

Meanwhile, activists of the banned outfit led by Asim Ali Shah staged a sit-in in Unit No. 7 of Latifabad and burnt tyres against the two suspects’ detention.

Police held negotiations with the protesting activists and finally released the suspects.