TAXILA: Three teenage boys were caught red-handed after they barged into a shop here early Thursday.

Sources said the suspects broke into a machinery shop on Faisal Shaheed Road from its rear side towards the tehsil municipal administration (TMA) offices. As some passersby spotted the burglars scaling the window wall and entering the shop, the suspects hid inside. Later, the police reached the spot and cordoned off the area.

However, the traders and shopkeepers of the area did not allow the police to arrest the burglars unless a formal case was registered in the presence of the area police head and the assistant commissioner. They said this was the fourth such incident within two weeks in the area but the police never took action against the arrested people.

The traders later blocked the Taxila-Hattar Road against the growing crimes, saying scores of shopkeepers had been deprived of cash and valuables but the police never took action against the culprits.

They were of the view that in the past they caught robbery and theft suspects and handed them over to the police who let them off after taking bribe.

After about two hours, the assistant commissioner and the area police chief reached the spot and held successful negotiations with the traders at the TMA complex. Later, the traders announced their decision to end the protest.

The police then arrested the burglars who were later identified as Abdul Manan, a resident of Pind Gondal; Jalal Butt of Ahatta and Ghaniur Rehman, a resident of Thatta Khalil.

Before the police took them away, the traders severely beat up the arrested suspects.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2014