LAHORE: Police launched a search operation at Harpalke village after an armed clash broke out between police and some residents of Heir village on a road construction dispute with the Defence Housing Authority on Friday.

Police arrested more than 15 protesters after they allegedly shot at and injured a policeman and damaged the official vehicle. Two other policemen suffered injuries during the scuffle with the villagers.

There were reports that the incident occurred when a road leading to the village was being constructed by the DHA following the Phase IX project. The villagers feared that the DHA was going to encroach upon the road which was on land owned by Harpalke residents.

Some witnesses told media persons that the scuffle first broke out between the DHA guards and the villagers. They said on finding the situation getting out of control, the DHA administration called the senior police officers who dispatched a heavy contingent of police to deal with the law and order situation.

A scuffle broke out between the villagers and the police shortly after armed men opened fire and injured a police official. More reserves of the police were called to launch a search operation in the area.

“The violent protesters were carrying weapons and they shot at and injured our police official and damaged a police van,” Cantonment SP Operations Sayyed Ali told this reporter. He said scores of residents of the village turned violent when the DHA was constructing a road after legal formalities.

The SP said the search operation was launched in the village and its surroundings where the attackers had taken shelter.

“We have arrested over 15 violent protesters and a case is being registered against them for using firearm against police,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2021