BAJAUR, April 11: People of the agency have turned vegetarian as butchers here have been observing a strike for four days. They demand increase in meat prices.

The All Bajaur Qasai Association has warned its members of heavy fine if they open shops, sources said, adding that the warning has proved very effective across the agency as the people have not get meat for four days.

In an ensuing action to end the strike, the political administration has arrested about 12 butchers, including butchers’ body president Haji Gul Yousaf, as talks between the butchers and the administration had failed to resolve the issue, the sources claimed.

The strike spread like wildfire to smaller villages and far-flung parts of the agency after the talks failed. The butchers’ body has strictly warned its members of Rs50,000 fine if they open the shops or slaughter animals before their demands are accepted.

The butchers are of the view that as the price of animals has increased manifold owing to their smuggling to Afghanistan, therefore the meat price should also be raised from Rs60 to Rs80 per kg.

An official said the administration had decided to increase the price by Rs5 per kilogramme meat, but it could not accept undue demands of butchers.