LARKANA, March 16: The kidnapping of a commission agent and beating up of his son sparked a protest in the vegetable market of Larkana and traders shut down their businesses on Sunday.

Four armed men overpowered Jawed Qureshi near Surhiya Padhar close to the Jiles Bazar on Sunday morning and bundled him into a car when he and his son were going to the market.

His son, Jahanzeb, was beaten up by the kidnappers when he tried to protect his father.

Jahanzeb received head injuries and was admitted to the neurology ward of the Chandka Medical College Hospital.

Fruit and vegetable commission agents’ association president Jan Mohammed Jatoi told Dawn that the Larkana DPO after a meeting had sought a two-day time for the recovery of Jawed Qureshi.

The market would be closed for indefinite period if the police applied any delaying tactics in the victim’s recovery, Jatoi warned.

The association expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the district and urged for effective measures to curb the rising crime rate.

The police laid siege to villages Malook Korai, Nizamuddain Jatoi, Khalique colony and Baitul Mal colony and rounded up two suspects, Rakhiyal Abro and Peral Abro, sources said.