HYDERABAD, Feb 10: Residents of Amani Shah Colony have demanded action against alleged hoodlums called “22 families” as according to them even police avoid taking action against these louts while liberating one arrested earlier.

The affected pinched residents including Safdar Khan his nephew Mohammad Talish, his friend Mohammad Imran and others addressed a press conference at local press club on Tuesday. They also held a protest demonstration outside press club where women and children raised slogans demanding arrest of gangsters.

Khan told journalists that his nephew Talish was roughed up by the drunken men on Jan 28 while their ringleader Haji Bahawal collects donation in the name of a mosque. He said that his nephew Talish and son Nasir were manhandled in front of the house.

Police lodged an FIR on court order as police earlier refused to register a case. However, police arrested only one accused Mohammad Ali who was released subsequently, he said.

On Jan 30 Talish and his friend Mohammad Imran were going to Kotri on their motorbike when chased by the occupants of a car who opened fire on the boys, Khan said identifying them as Imran Gullani, Irfan Gullani and Mir Mehboob. They kidnapped Talish and took him to a house in Kotri while residents witnessing the whole drama informed the police he said adding that Talish was tortured by the gangsters before Kotri police recovered him from the house.

According to Khan two pistols were recovered from the possession of Mir Mehmood, Irfan and another man while three separate FIRs had been lodged against them.

However, he alleged police of disposing of the FIRs within six to seven days after Kotri incident and was even threatened by the In-charge Investigation Lal Bux Lashari when approached. Khan demanded Lashari’s suspension and action regarding the FIRs.