FAISALABAD, Aug 30: Hundreds of villagers blocked traffic and staged a protest demonstration on Faisalabad-Samundri Road against the local police for its failure to control the increasing number of dacoities and highway robberies.

Scores of villagers, including women and children of Chak 254-RB, Ganga Singwala, Kansiwala, Chak 257-RB, Jhangirwala, Mazbiwala, Chak 258-RB, Pharala and other adjoining villages of Dijkot town, about 20kms from here, gathered on the main Samundri Road and suspended traffic by erecting barricades and burnt used tyres.

They also chanted slogans against the police alleging that they had failed to nab the bandits involved in dacoities and robberies in rural areas.

The protesters also marched on different roads and staged the demonstration at the main intersection of Dijkot. They blocked all kind of traffic on Samundri Road for about three hours.

They alleged that the area police and the Rescue 15 squads were immediately informed about a dacoity in a house at Chak 254-RB on Friday night. But the police reached the spot after several hours providing enough time to outlaws to manage their escape.

They also blamed that some Dijkot policemen had links with the outlaws due to which the entire area was in the grip of bandits and incidents of vehicle-snatching and broad daylight dacoities had become an order of the day.

The SP (Saddar) after receipt of protest demonstration and blockade of the road hastened to the spot and held negotiations with the protesters. The SP assured them that an action would be taken against the lethargy policemen and bandits involved in dacoities would also be rounded up. The protesters demanded immediate suspension of the entire Dijkot police staff, but the SP ordered transfer of only SI Muhammad Amin.

However, the protesting villagers dispersed with a threat to again block traffic and stage demonstration if the police failed to arrest the culprits within 24 hours.

Rural areas of the district especially in the limits of police stations of Dijkot, Samundri, Thikriwala, Saddar, Tandlianwala, Chak Jhumra, Jaranwala and Satiana have become havens for the criminals due to poor security arrangements of patrolling and picketing of roads.

At least 10 to 12 incidents of dacoity and vehicle-snatching are reported every day in these areas, but the senior police officials are playing the role of silent spectators.

BOY killed: A boy was killed while two others were injured by drug-traffickers in Chamanzar Colony on Saturday.

Ghulam Hussain had reprimanded Ashfaq Masih for selling drugs in the area. After a couple of hours, Ashfaq and his two accomplices intercepted Ghulam Hussain and opened fire at him, killing him on the spot.

Muhammad Boota and Muhammad Imran, who were with Ghulam Hussain, also sustained bullet wounds. The condition of both the injured was stated to be critical in hospital.