KASUR, Feb 12: Hundreds of people, including students of Government High School, Habibabad, blocked Habibabad-Multan road for about five hours and injured three police officials while protesting against the kidnap of a schoolboy on Thursday.

Hafiz Iftikhar Ahmad was on his way home to Wan Radha Ram village by a bicycle. When he reached near the village, three armed men stuffed in a car and drove away.

One of Iftikhar's school fellows, Arshad, saw the incident and informed Pattoki Saddar police about it. But police did not try to arrest the kidnappers and recover the boy.

Later, seven tractor trolleys full of villagers and schoolboys reached the Habibabad-Multan road and blocked the traffic by burning tyres and parking tractors in the middle of road. The blockade continued for more than five hours - from 8am to 1:30pm. The protesters raised slogans against police.

Pattoki Saddar police reached the spot but failed to control the situation. They called heavy police contingents for assistance. When the protesters saw the police, they pelted them with stones.

Some of the protesters reportedly fired shots at police as a result of which Pattoki city SHO Masood Ahmad, ASI Manzoor Ahmad and Constable Muhammad Iqbal of Elite Force sustained injuries.

The injured were admitted to the THQ hospital Pattoki from where ASI Manzoor was shifted to the Jinnah Hospital in Lahore. Police fired tear gas to disperse the protesters.

Meanwhile, the Kasur SP (investigation), and DSPs of Pattoki and Chunian reached the spot and are investigating. Police registered a case against 112 protesters late night.

Pattoki DSP Yahya Virk told Dawn that the protesters damaged four police vehicles.

RAPE: A girl was raped in Sahari village in the jurisdiction of Kasur Saddar police. Police said Ashraf entered the house 'K' when she was alone and raped her at gunpoint. Kasur Saddar police have registered a case against the absconding accused.