SARGODHA, March 12: Hundreds of villagers blocked Lahore-Sargodha Road near village Doda, some 40km away from here, on Wednesday when the bodies of six victims of toxic wastes of a factory were brought for burial after autopsy.

Six people of a family died and another six were injured, three of whom are still in critical condition, when a drowning buffalo was being rescued from a nullah (drain) carrying toxic wastes of the nearby factory owned by a former provincial minister belonging to the PML-Q.

The angry mob set a blaze the factory and thrashed security guards. One of the guards, Ghulam Muhammad, is in critical condition. Fire-fighters from Kot Momin and Sargodha reached the spot and controlled the fire after a couple of hours.

The mob threw traffic out of gear for around four hours and broke the windscreens and windowpanes of two fire-brigade vehicles.

Later, they abandoned their protest after the administration assured them of an action against the responsible. The police also baton charged the protesters to disperse them.

The fire damaged three stores and two blocks along with two vehicles of the factory and the loss was initially estimated worth Rs25 million. However, the factory’s operating machinery and modules remained safe.

The factory management claimed that their premises was attacked on the instigation of political opponents of the former provincial minister and managing partner of the factory. The former minister is also the son of a PML-Q’s MNA-elect from this district and a close relative of PML-Q’s central leaders.

The factory management said that loss worth Rs100 million had been caused to the factory installations. It was also alleged that two employees of the factory had also been kidnapped.

Meanwhile, the locals blamed the management of the factory and demanded registration of murder case against factory officials.

They claimed that the factory management deliberately discharging toxic wastes in the drain in an uncontrolled manner that was not only posing threat to the masses but was also destroying fertile lands in the vicinity.

The district government assured the protesters that guilty persons would be taken to task on which they abandoned their protest.

The district coordination officer said that an inquiry had been directed and the guilty persons would be punished accordingly. The Kot Momin deputy district officer for revenue has been deputed inquiry officer.

He said he had recommended special financial assistance for the victims.