GUJRANWALA, Jan 28: A traffic police official who fined a rickshaw driver for traffic rule violation and then stood by his decision ended up in a lock-up on Wednesday.

His 'adamant attitude' caused a clash between lawyers and police and led to the GT Road blockade near Gondlanwala Chowk by lawyers for more than two hours.Traffic police said ASI Zahoor Hussain challaned a motorcycle rickshaw driver, close relative of lawyer Rana Suleman, on charge of violation of traffic laws near the district courts.

Rana Suleman allegedly manhandled the ASI when he refused to withdraw the challan. The ASI called force from Kotwali police station and Elite Force who then thrashed the lawyer.

When bar president Saifullah Cheema, secretary-general Ghulam Sarwar Awan and joint secretary Rana Amir came there to rescue their colleague, police officials allegedly detained them at the traffic office at Gondlanwala Chowk.

As other lawyers learnt this, they rushed to the spot and besieged the traffic police office besides blocking the GT Road. Some lawyers told District and Sessions Judge Riazul Hassan that bar president and other officer-bearers had been detained by traffic police illegally in their office.

A bailiff of court raided there and retrieved them from traffic police office. He also submitted a report to the D&SJ about the incident. Traffic police SP Intisar Jaffri and city SP reached the spot and assured the lawyers that stern action would be taken against the ASI and other police officials after an inquiry. Later, lawyers dispersed peacefully.

The SP traffic suspended the ASI whereas the Kotwali police arrested him for 'misbehaving' with the lawyers. The district bar will meet on Thursday (today) to decide "future line of action against the traffic police."

STUDENT DIES: Kite-flying fever claimed the life of class-II student here at Rahwali on Wednesday. According to reports, Ehtasham was flying kite on the roof of his house when he slipped and fell on the ground. He suffered head injuries and taken to the District Headquarters Hospital where he breathed his last after few hours.