FAISALABAD: At least six protesters -- two children and four women -- sustained injuries on Monday when police used baton charge against them during an anti-encroachment operation in Tibba Colony to clear the land of the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) City Extension Block.

Protesting against the police highhandedness, the protesters blocked traffic on the motorway through a sit-in for more than five hours. They called off the protest after being assured by the FDA officials that the district government would allot them land in Rasoolpur.

People started protest when the district government officers, along with police and heavy machinery, reached the FDA City extension block on Sargodha Road and started razing the houses, most of them belonging to Christians. The residents reacted to the operation and put up resistance to stop the activity.

The police used baton charge to disperse them which left six people injured.

After this, the residents of the houses, damaged by the officials, including women and children, held a protest at the motorway interchange and blocked traffic. The police tried their level best to disperse the agitators who refused to budge.

Talking to the reporters, the protesters said no notice had been issued to them before the operation. The administration had to seek the help of Christian notables to convince the protesters.