GUJRAT, Dec 3: Six dacoits looted mobile phones worth Rs9.3 million from a cell phone company’s franchise on Ramtalai Road after which the traders went on a shutter-down strike and staged a protest demonstration here on Wednesday.

Reports said six robbers barged in the franchise early in the morning, tied up the watchman with a rope and cut locks of the shop with a cutter. The robbers then made off with new and used mobile phones.

Following the incident, owners of hundreds of mobile phone shops in the city, joined by Ramtalai Road traders, closed their businesses in protest against the growing crime rate in the area. They also staged a protest demonstration, burning tyres to block the road.

The City DSP, along with other police officials, reached the spot and tried to pacify the protesters by ensuring them the culprits would be held soon. PML-N MPA Haji Nasir Mahmood also visited the spot and asked the police officials to arrest the culprits.

City’s B division police have registered a case against unidentified robbers on the report of Naeem Warraich, the owner of the looted shop, who is also the president of the District Mobile Phone Dealers Association, Gujrat.

Meanwhile, the Anjuman-i-Tajaran, Ramtalai Road, has given a 72-hour deadline for robbers’ arrest, warning the administration of an agitation and a complete strike, otherwise.