MITHI: The Tharparkar district headquarters and several other towns remained closed for a second consecutive day on Saturday in protest against the murder of two trader brothers during a robbery at their food grain outlet in Mithi a day earlier.

An FIR (1/2018) was registered under sections 337 H2, 302, 397 and 24 of the Pakistan Penal Code and section 7/6 of the anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) at the Mithi police station on the complaint of Kelash Kumar, a cousin of deceased Daleep Kumar and Chandar Kumar, who belonged to the Meheshwari community.

A large number of local businessmen, traders, shopkeepers and other residents of Mithi took part in a sit-in held again at Kashmir Chowk to continue their protest against the incident and demand immediate arrest of the killers. The sit-in lasted six hours before senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders, including Faqeer Sher Mohammed Bilalani and MPA Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, succeeded in their hectic efforts to persuade them to disperse.

The protest was led by PTI MNA Lalchand Malhi, Arbab Anwer Jabbar of the Arbab group, Advocate Shahnawaz Hingorjo, Fakeer Irshad Kumbhar, Subhan Samejo, Advocate Wasand Thari, Ghansham Malhi and others.

Tharparkar SSP Amir Saud Magsi told this reporter that two suspects had been picked up for interrogation. He said the Sindh inspector general had announced Rs500,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the culprits.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2018