SHEIKHUPURA, Dec 22: All shopping centres and bazaars remained closed here on Sunday in protest against the alarming rise in dacoity incidents.

The strike call was given by the Traders Association at a meeting held here the other day.

Talking to newsmen, Sarrafa Association president Maqsood Khan said it seemed the police had given the bandits a free hand as they were roaming in commercial centres without any fear.

He said on Saturday, three armed men entered Ahmad Jewellers on the Hospital Road and took away cash and ornaments worth Rs1.2 million. To save their skin, he said police mentioned the loss of only Rs7,000 in the FIR.

A traders’ delegation on Sunday met DPO Mubarik Ather who assured them that every possible effort would be made to arrest the culprits. The trader, however, threatened to take out rallies if the culprits were not arrested within 24 hours.