FAISALABAD, Aug 23: Robbers on Saturday shot dead a watchman employed at a trader’s house and took away Rs2 million here at Officers Colony, Madina Town.

Reports said four masked men stormed into the house of trader Muhammad Arshad, whose watchman Ghulam Muhammad put up resistance. The robbers shot him dead, and plundered cash, gold ornaments and other valuables worth Rs2 million.

The relevant police immediately reached the spot, but failed to get a clue to the robbers.

RESENTMENT: The Muttahida Mazdoor Kissan Mahaz has expressed concern over escalating prices of fertilisers, agricultural inputs and pesticides, demanding the government that it should design a farmer-friendly policy.

At a workshop held here on Saturday, the speakers pointed out that the “commission mafia” in the market committees had been exploiting the farmers, and denying them their legitimate payments.

They also blamed the market committee functionaries for playing in the hands of the commission agents, who had been depriving the farmers of their hard-earned money.

The growers were forced to sell their products at a throwaway prices because of poor marketing, they added.