CHAKWAL, May 19: The violent protesters attacked the Iesco offices, torched different vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles parked inside and blocked Talagang Road in protest against prolonged and unannounced electricity loadshedding here on Thursday.

The Shabab Milli gave a call for the protest rally which was responded by the traders, students and common citizens as the people's lives became miserable due to the sleepless nights and restless days. The angry protesters gathered at Chapar Bazaar and walked through Tehsil Chowk and reached Bhoun Chowk where they burnt tyres and shouted slogans against the government.

Another protest rally was taken out from Odherwal Chowk which stormed the Sub-Divisional Office of Iesco at Talagang Road. The protesters set ablaze many motor-bikes and bicycles of the Iesco employees. They also attacked the vehicles which were parked inside the office. They burnt an Iesco truck while threw stones on other vehicles breaking their wind screens. Going berserk, the rioters broke the furniture of the Iesco office. After ransacking the Sub-Divisional Office, the protesters attacked the Iesco construction office where they burnt the official record. The protesters also hurled stones at Ghaziabad grid station.

Later, they blocked the Talagang Road by parking trucks and burning tyers. District Complex was cut off from the city and the people of Talagang, Moreed, Thoa Bhadur, Bikhari, Balkasar, Neela, Dullah, Bhagwal, Dhakku, Maingon and many other villages suffered great difficulties as they could not return to their homes due to the road blockage.

District administration could not convince the protesters to end the blockage of the road till the filing of this report

Talking to Dawn, Deputy Director Technical (Iesco) Ajmal Khan said that they held a meeting with the office bearers of the traders association on Wednesday night in which the traders were assured that the unannounced loadshedding would be stopped immediately. “The traders were convinced that they would not resort to violence and stage a peaceful protest rally”, he maintained. He further said that the people from Odherwal and Chakora villages turned violent. “They went berserk due to the disparity of loadshedding between the urban and rural areas”, said Mr Ajmal.

When contacted, District Police Officer (DPO) Syed Ali Mohsin said that he ordered the police officials not to take any action against the protesters. “I ordered so to avoid any untoward incident,” he said and added that the negotiations were under way with the protesters. “I hope that the road would be opened soon”, said DPO.