TAXILA: The residents of various villages of Union council Usman Khattar on Friday evening blocked Taxila- Hattar road for hours to register their protest against robberies.

The charged and angry protesters came on the roads after a man and his wife who were coming home after attending a marriage ceremony were intercepted by armed robbers on Gudu Road and deprived them of cash, mobile phone and gold ornaments.

As the couple reaches their house and narrated the matter to their family and relatives, all the notables of the area gathered and announced to stage a protest.

Talking to the media, locals said the police action was nowhere visible after several incidents of robberies and snatching or stealing.

They said it seemed that criminals are above the law and police were supporting them.

They said over four motorcycles have either been stolen or snatched within a week but none of them had been recovered, which proved that local police were helping the robbers.

The protesters’ leaders said that crime had increased and lawlessness prevailed in the city because of corrupt police officers.

They urged the authorities to take action against criminals and punish them and replace corrupt police officers.

Haji Zahid Rafeeq- local office bearer of traders union said that he provided CCTV footage to the Taxila Cantt police in which a man was seen snatching a motorcycle and police were informed about the whereabouts of the accused who was subsequently traced and picked.

He added that police recovered the motorcycle and handed it over to the owner but no case was registered against the snatcher and the accused was set free after taking illegal gratification.

Hafiz Tahir, who was looted by armed robbers, said police had failed to address the growing lawlessness in the area.

Later after successful negotiations between protesters and local PTI leadership, the traffic was restored.

The traffic between Taxila and Hattar industrial estate was suspended for hours causing a traffic mess as long trailers, trucks and dumpers made a mess for the commuters.

It is the second protest from the public against the growing lawlessness in the city.

Earlier on Sunday, scores of people from different walks of life especially traders took out protest rally to register their protest against the growing lawlessness in the city.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2021