MANSEHRA, Dec 8: Hundreds of people on Monday blocked the Mansehra-Oghi Road against the murder of a young boy, disrupting the traffic for hours.

The protesters belonging to Khaki in the lower Pakhal area were demanding the arrest of a Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal MPA from Kohistan, Maulvi Asmatullah, and his nephew Qadam Khan in the murder case.

Qadam Khan had allegedly stabbed Riaz, son of Gul Zaman, over a minor dispute on Sunday evening. Riaz died in the DHQ hospital.

The protesters placed the body on the road and set on fire old tyres. Carrying banners and raising slogans against the provincial government, they demanded the arrest of the MPA.

Heavy contingents of the police reached the spot and held negotiations with the protesters and the elders of the area to bring an end to the protest.

Later, the police picked up several people during raids for the arrest of the alleged killer who is said to have fled the area.

Residents of the area told reporters that Riaz and Qadam Khan had scuffled over a dispute during Ramazan in which Qadam Khan was slightly injured. Qadam Khan lodged an FIR against Riaz, but the latter got a pre-arrest bail from a local court.

They said several Jirgas were held to resolve the dispute but to no avail. They claimed that Maulvi Asmatullah refused to make a compromise and insisted on taking revenge.

Niaz, a brother of Riaz, charged Maulvi Asmatullah with the murder in his statement before the police.