KASUR, April 18: About 250 brick kiln workers staged a protest demonstration and blocked Raiwind-Kasur Road on Tuesday in front of labour office.

The protesters were led by Pakistan Mazdoor Union president Mahmood Butt and others. They were holding banners and placards bearing slogans against kiln owners, district administration and the government.

Their leaders demanded in their speeches raise in their wages in accordance with new labour laws, marriage allowance, old age allowance, financial aid in case of death at work or injuries and to stop mental and physical torture.

They also demanded free dispensaries, hospitals and colonies.

The workers went on indefinite strike and urged the district administration and the government to accept their demands.

ENCOUNTER: A police constable was killed in an encounter while an ASI and driver sustained serious injuries on Wahger Road on Monday night in Mustafabad.

The police patrol team, including ASI Aslam, Constable Iqbal and wagon driver Abbas saw a gang of robbers. The felons reportedly opened fire on the police party which returned the compliment. However, the three policemen suffered injuries while the robbers escaped taking advantage of darkness. The injured were rushed to the Kasur DHQ from where ASI Aslam and Constable Iqbal were referred to the Lahore General Hospital. Iqbal succumbed to his injuries at around midnight.

The condition of Aslam is stated to be critical.

Meanwhile, funeral prayer for Iqbal was offered at the Police Lines and he was buried in the graveyard of his native village.

HANGED: Two convicts were hanged in the district jail at 5:30am here on Tuesday.

Liaquat and Mukhtar had shot dead Yaseen 14 years ago on irrigation water dispute at Cheenatar.