TAXILA, May 5: The Hindus and Sikhs of Hassanabdal blocked the G T Road on Thursday by placing the body of a Hindu trader in the middle of the road in protest against his murder by some unknown persons.

They also expressed their resentment over the insecurity to the minorities in the country. According to police sources, Kaniya Lal, a shopkeeper was shot dead on Wednesday evening during loadshedding when he was returning home after closing his shop. On information, the police reached the scene and shifted the body to the THQ hospital for autopsy. Meanwhile, the Hindus and Sikhs gathered outside the hospital. In order to calm down the Hindus and Sikhs, District Police Officer (DPO) Dr Akhter Abbass and other officials reached there and started investigation.

On Thursday morning, the body of Kaniya Lal was handed over to his relatives for cremation and other rituals. As a large number of Hindus and the Sikhs led by PML-N MNA Dr Aariash Kaumar were carrying the body to the Indus River for the rituals, they got infuriated and placed the body in the middle of the GT Road and blocked the traffic. They were chanting slogans against the killing of their community member and alleged that the minorities were not being provided adequate security in the country. Owing to the protest, the traffic on Rawalpindi-Peshawar GT Road and Hassanabdal-Hazara Road remained suspended causing much inconvenience to the commuters. The people including women and children were seen going on foot in hot weather to continue their journey.

The protesters demanded that the killers of Kaniya Lal be arrested at the earliest and the Hindus and the Sikhs living in the area should be provided appropriate security.

While talking to newsmen on the occasion, MNA Mr Aaraish said that the incident had created fear and insecurity among the minorities living in the area. He said that the government had completely failed to protect the minorities as their members were being killed and abducted. They were also being threatened by the influential people of the area. He said that he would raise the issue of Kaniya Lal’s murder in the Parliament. He warned if the murderers were not arrested within 48 hours, the minorities would launch protest throughout the country against the gory incident.

Later, the protestors dispersed peacefully following successful negotiations with DSP Hassanabdal Ch Mohammad Aslam and traffic was restored on the GT Road after one hour.

According to reports, Kaniya Lal, 70, shifted to Hassanabdal from Batgram area after October 2005 earthquake. He was also a spiritual healer as a large number of people including Muslims and Non-Muslims frequently visited him for treatment of the diseases.