LARKANA, July 10: A complete strike was observed in Shahdadkot town on Monday in protest against lawlessness, firing of rockets on rice mills and sending threats over mobile phones for extortion by bandits.

Trade activities came to halt in the town where hundreds of people representing different trade bodies assembled at the Kotoo-Motoo chowk.

Citizen Action Committee Chairman Qamaruddain Shaikh, Haq Nawaz Shaikh, Mian Atta Mohammed and Mehraj Ramesh criticised poor police role in containing crime and arresting Malook alias Wishoon Chandio who had unleashed a reign of terror in the area.

They said that Wishoon and his accomplices were present in their hideouts close to Shahdadkot but police were reluctant to crackdown on them.

“We want peace in the area which is the hub of trade activities in newly-created Qambar-Shahdadkot district”, they said.

They said that recently bandits had phoned at the rice mill of CAC’s chairman Qamaruddain and dropped a message for him to avoid talking against bandits or be ready for dire consequences.

They said that if police efforts bore no fruit within a week, a strike would be observed in the town on next Monday.

Sindh Chief minister Dr Arbab Rahim had talked to Qambar-Shahdadkot District Nazim Nawab Shabir Ahmed Chandio and asked him to take measures to flush out criminals from the district.

Sindh Interior Minister Rauf Siddiki and the Sukkur regional police officer had contacted the chairman of the CAC and assured for all measures to restore peace in the area.

Police raided certain hideouts on Monday and picked some suspects connected with the gang of Wishoon.

One of the suspects was identified as Mushtaque Chandio.

Qambar-Shahdadkot DPO Sharjil Kharal said that joint raids by Sindh and Balochistan police would also be conducted.

The mobile number used in the crime has been traced through the CPLC and it has been deactivated.

About 10 people were arrested in this connection.

An extra force has been deployed combined with setting up police pickets at all strategic points to ensure safety of people.

KILLED: A man was killed and his two brothers were injured in Aitbar Chandio village near Shahdadkot on Monday.