JACOBABAD, March 29: Activists of the Small Traders' Union and the Citizens' Action Committee here on Monday took out a protest procession against the rising crime rate in the area.

The protesters were led by Small Traders' Union vice-president Ahmad Ali Brohi and Citizens' Action Committee president Mohammad Akram Abro. The procession started from the Sarafa Bazaar Chowk and after passing through main thoroughfares culminated at the press club.

The protesters raised slogans against police. Speaking on the occasion, Ghulam Nabi Qureshi, Sabir Hussain Pathan, Nadeem Qureshi, Ramesh Lal, Miral Gabol and others said incidents of crimes were increasing in the district and traders and businessmen were being looted in daylight.

They warned that they would observe a shutter-down strike in the Jacobabad town if their looted money was not recovered. Later, DPO Din Mohammad Baloch met leaders of traders and assured them that robbers would soon be arrested. He said action would be taken against negligent police officials.