GUJRAT: At least 150 suspects have been arrested so far by the police in connection with violent protests and clashes on the campuses of Punjab Group of Colleges in Gujrat as search for miscreants continued for the second consecutive day on Thursday.

The situation in Gujrat returned to normalcy due to strict security measures, including deployment of heavy force, constant patrolling and intelligence-based operations by the law enforcement agencies in the city and other towns of the district.

The academic activities on the campuses of all the private and public sector colleges and universities remained suspended.

The pathways leading to the boys and girls campuses of PGC in Gujrat, Kunjah, Lalamusa, Kharian and Jalalpur Jattan were kept barricaded.

Gujrat District Police Officer Dr Mustanser Atta Bajwa, SP Investigation Riaz Ahmed Naz and DSPs continued to patrol various parts of the city and district whereas police contingents were also deployed at various important squares of the city, particularly at GTS Chowk, Jinnah Chowk, Servis Mor and Bhimbher Road.

At least two dozen suspects were arrested by the city circle.

A senior police officer told Dawn that the 150 suspects had been sent to the Gujrat District Jail. He said seven cases had been lodged with police stations of Gujrat Saddar, Lalamusa Saddar, Jalalpur Jattan Saddar, Kunjah, Kharian Saddar, Civil Lines and Lorry Adda.

The officer said teams of senior police officials were interrogating the arrested suspects to ascertain ‘hidden hands’ who incited the students to violence.

An official of the local administration told Dawn the involvement of criminal gangs and different social media groups of students was being probed as non-student elements and politically-backed criminals would run such groups to exploit them for political motives.

“The investigation is being done from every aspect,” the officer said.

About the loss caused by the violent protest, he said it was around Rs80 million so far.

Meanwhile, deceased security guard Mazhar Hussain who died in a clash at the boys campus near Gurali, was laid to rest in his native Gondal Sharif village on Thursday.

His autopsy was conducted by doctors at the Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital.

Gujrat Saddar police have registered a case of his murder against protesting students.

Meanwhile, scores of students staged a demonstration in Gujranwala against the alleged rape in Lahore.

The protesters blocked the GT Road and also pelted stones at police vehicle as a result of which the window glasses of the patrol vehicle were broken.

Police contingents had been deployed at various locations of Gujranwala to cope with any law and order situation.

SAHIWAL: Ghala Mandi police booked 67 students and arrested 32 of them from various educational institutions for protesting at multiple locations.

The students chanted slogans against the Punjab government and demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident. They accused the government of concealing facts to cover up the rape case.

According to police, students from Technology College, Government Graduate College, Punjab College, Concordia College, and Government High School gathered at Pakpattan Chowk and held a demonstration.

A group of students intended to march toward the Punjab College building but were stopped by the police.

Ghala Mandi police registered a case under 16 MPO and sections 341, 427, 149, 148, 186, 352 and 506 of PPC on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Zafer Iqbal.

DPO Faisal Shahzad said no-one involved would be spared. He said students pelted stones at police and attacked officers.

TOBA TEK SINGH: Gojra City police booked eight students of local chapter of Punjab College for taking out a procession.

Police said students reached Kacha Gojra Chowk on Painsara Road and chanted slogans against the provincial government and management of the Punjab colleges.

Police said they were conducting raids to arrest the accused students.

(Tariq Saeed from Toba Tek Singh also contributed to this report)

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2024