MIANWALI, May 10: Villagers closed shops, blocked road and took to the street in protest against the death of a local resident at the hands of his alleged kidnappers here in Wan Bhachran, 25 kilometres from here, on Saturday.

Nur Zaman was kidnapped on May 1 and later killed by his captors a week ago when his family failed to pay ransom to secure his release.

The District Traders Association also mourned the death of the kidnapped man as he was an ice trader and observed a partial strike all over the district.

Angry traders of Wan- Bhachran came to roads and blocked Mianwali- Lahore Road for four hours. Mianwali District Police Officer (DPO) Tasaduq Hayat had to arrive at the protest scene to control the situation.

He talked to traders and convinced them to end the road blockade after four hours.

The DPO said police had arrested nominated accused Falak Sher and hunt was on for the arrest of four other kidnappers. He said he had deployed a patrolling squad on Chidroo Road beside establishing a police check post at Chidroo Morr. He added he was posted in district a week ago and was planning to purge the district from crimes.

Musakhel police have registered a murder case on the complaint of Muhammad Yar, the father of deceased Nur Zaman, against Niamatullah and Falak Sher and three others unidentified people under sections 302, 365-A, 148 and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code and 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

On May 6, the traders of Wan Bhachran observed strike and blocked Mianwali-Lahore Road for four hours to press the police to arrest the alleged kidnappers.