LAHORE, Oct 27: Over 200 residents of Mandi Faizabad in Nankana Sahib district demonstrated in front of Governor’s House on Monday to protest the alleged exoneration of three murder suspects by the local police after accepting illegal gratification.

The protesters, including women, blocked The Mall and staged a sit-in while shouting slogans against the police.

They said that assailants belonging to their rival Dogar group had murdered one of their members and a case was registered against five suspects with Mandi Faizabad police.

But, they said, the police exonerated three suspects in the investigation after being bribed to the tune of Rs1.5 million. They demanded action against the responsible police officials.

A grid-lock occurred on The Mall and its arteries as police erected barricades at all roads leading towards Governor’s House and diverted traffic to other roads.

Senior police officers reached the spot in an attempt to disperse the mob but to no avail. The police allegedly baton-charged the protesters when they refused to disperse.

A PML-N MPA Mohsin Latif turned up there and launched reconciliation efforts. He called the Sheikhpura Range DIG on phone and inquired about the matter.

The DIG assured the MPA that fresh investigation into the case would be initiated. After two hours or so, the mob dispersed while threatening more protests in case they would not be provided justice.