HARIPUR, May 17: Masked bandits on Saturday deprived the passengers of six vehicles of valuables and cash on the Chappar Road, some 15km north of the district headquarters.

After the incident, victims came to the SP office in a group and lodged a protest against poor security arrangements on the Chappar Road.

A passenger said he was travelling in a Toyota Hiace from Haripur to Kalinjer when the vehicle was stopped by six armed bandits near village Chakhai.

The criminals, he said, searched all the passengers fearlessly and  snatched wrist watches, gold rings and all cash from them.

Eyewitnesses said dacoits, who remained busy in looting for over one-and-a-half hours, had emptied the pockets of passengers travelling in two Toyota Hiace vehicles, two Datsun pick-ups, a bus and truck.

“I was also deprived of gold ornaments weighing about 30 tolas and cash of thousands of rupees,” said a newly-wed woman, Shamim, who was on her way back to the parent’s home for the first time after her marriage.

It was reported that there were organized gangs of bandits, comprising  proclaimed offenders, who forcibly stopped vehicles and deprived passengers of valuables at that particular place.

TWO DIE: Two persons died in two different incidents on Friday evening.