TAXILA: Protesters on Friday blocked Taxila-Hatter Road for hours after a 15-year-old boy was shot dead by robbers.

The protesters raised slogans against the police and local administration for their failure to control crime. They demanded removal of the police officials posted in the area.

This was the second protest staged by people in the current week against rising street crime.

According to Usama, he and his friend Saif Afzal were returning home after Friday prayers when three motorcyclists intercepted them and snatched cash and a mobile phone from him. Usama said when his friend Saif tried to resist, one of the robbers shot him and fled. The injured was taken to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital from where Saif was being shifted to Rawalpindi when he died.

Following the incident, protesters gathered on an overhead bridge on Taxila-Hatter Road and blocked traffic.

Jameel Ahmed, a relative of the victim, said the negligence of Taxila police could be judged from the fact that a few days ago a handcuffed robber fled from a private detention cell of the station house officer city and the authorities pushed the issue under the carpet.

After negotiation between protesters and leaders of different political parties and police officials, the protest was called off. Long queues of vehicles.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2024