LAHORE: Scores of people on Saturday blocked Metro Bus Service and the Ferozpur Road at Chungi Amir Sidhu for traffic, accusing police of not arresting the suspects involved in rape and murder of a minor girl.

The charged people, including parents and relatives of the girl, staged a sit-in on the busiest road of the city throwing traffic out of gear for a couple of hours.

They also chanted slogans against the police and demanded action against the officials involved in delaying action against the criminals.

The traffic police diverted the motorists to small roads of the localities to avoid mess.

The families and the ambulances remained stuck on the road in the scorching heat while the Lahore General Hospital’s main gates also remained blocked for traffic, causing immense troubles for patients and their attendants.

The situation remained tense in the area as the protesters were not ready to leave the place without prompt action against the criminals.

Talking to Dawn, Lahore Operations SSP Ismail Kharrak confirmed the incident of murder of 12-year-old girl in Ichhra police limits some time ago.

However, defending the police, he said action had been taken promptly by lodging a criminal case against the suspects involved in the rape-cum-murder of the minor girl.

He said the suspects got pre-arrest bail from the courts and it was the responsibility of the investigation police to engage the parents by briefing them about the bail status of the criminals.

He said the police held negotiations with the elders of the girl and assured them that the criminals would be arrested after getting their bails cancelled from the court.

The protesters later dispersed, he said.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2019