FAISALABAD, Oct 25: A group of cart-men allegedly opened fire on shopkeepers here on Tuesday in Bhawana Bazaar over the issue of encroachments.

Reports said some traders forced the cart-men to vacate the bazaar and not to occupy the area in front of their shops. On this, they exchanged hot words with shopkeepers and opened fire on them.

After the incident, traders closed their shops and staged a demonstration against the encroachments and firing by the cart-men.

On the report of a shopkeeper, Muhammad Tariq, Kotwali police have registered a case against nine cart-men, including their leader Muhammad Ijaz, under Sections 324 and 395 of the PPC and 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.