MARDAN, Dec 1: Two traders were seriously injured and several others were arrested when police baton-charged a protest demonstration in the old Sabzi Mandi on Friday.

Fruit and vegetable dealers reiterated their refusal to vacate the place and shift to a new market outside the city.

The district government has imposed Section 144, banning entry of trucks into the city limits and Sabzi Mandi area.

However, the dealers took trucks to the market and unloaded their goods.

Witnesses said police baton-charged the traders when they were trying to stage a demonstration against the decision to shift the Sabzi Mandi.

They said the legs of one trader, Ghulam Rasool, and an arm of another one were fractured in the baton-charge.

Traders announced that they would continue their protest till the acceptance of their demands.

District Police Officer Mohammad Yameen Khan told journalists that police favoured a compromise on the issue and restoration of order to the city.

The detained traders had been sent to lock-up, the sources said.