LARKANA: Shopkeepers in bustling Resham Gali bazaar in Ratodero town shuttered their shops on Tuesday in protest against deteriorating law and order conditions in the town and demanded the administration provide them atmosphere conducive for trade.

The protesters’ leaders Saindad Joyo, Anees Junejo, Liaquat Brohi and others told reporters that incidents of exchange of fire between rival groups in the middle of the bazaar had become almost a routine where police remained silent spectator.

Many warring tribes, they said, had chosen this area to settle their old scores and freely engaged in exchange of fire in the market, which naturally affected their businesses.

They said that a pedestrian woman died after a stray bullet hit her when Vessar and Brohi tribesmen traded fire in the market a few days back. In another incident in Eid night, trade of fire between Jalbani and Vessar clans left two persons injured, they said, adding on Monday again, Vessars and Jalbanis exchanged fire in Resham Gali.

The protesters demanded elected representatives Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Faryal Talpur, Larkana DIG and SSP set up permanent police pickets in the market to check the miscreants so that traders could carry on their business with peace of mind.

They urged the government and influential persons of the area to end ongoing disputes between different tribes and clans.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2024