LAHORE, April 9: Enraged mob damaged public property and blocked traffic for about two hours after a man died and three others were injured when hit by a speeding truck on Bund Road in Islampura on Monday.
Police said the truck (LZD-5564), coming from Saggian Bridge, was overtaking a vehicle when it first hit two motorcyclists Khushi Muhammad and Khurram Shahzad and then ran over passers-by Khuda Baksh, Muhammad Bashir and Khalid near Bara Sanda stop.
Khushi, 55, died on the spot, while Khurram, 20, Khuda Baksh and Bashir were rushed to the Mian Munshi Hospital by passers-by, from where they were shifted to the Mayo Hospital. Khalid was discharged after provision of first aid.
Truck driver Sarwar of Farooqabad was arrested and the vehicle impounded by the police.
After the incident, people gathered on the road, blocked it by burning tyres, and raised slogans against traffic police for not checking rash driving and absence of road dividers on the congested Bund Road.
The protesters, many of them armed with sticks and bricks, pelted the truck with stones, damaging its windowpanes and smashing the windscreen. They also damaged passing vehicles and some nearby shops.
A large police contingent arrived at the spot and tried to control the mob.
City division SP and other police officials, besides representatives of local government, also reached the spot following the protest, and helped normalise the situation.
Islampura ASP Abdul Jabbar told Dawn that the protesters dispersed after being assured by the nazims of Samanabad Town and union council concerned that speed breakers and road dividers would be soon constructed on the busy road.
In another incident, a head-on collision between a route 5 wagon and a truck left nine people injured near Ferozpur Road underpass in early hours of Monday.
Rescue 1122 sources said a wagon (LPT-4056), coming from the Data Darbar, collided with a truck (LZB-8685).
The passengers, Jasir Ali, 42, Nadeem Akhtar, 31, Farhan Ali, 30, Haris, 48, Shah Mehmood, 25, Sanaullah, 7, Saddiqie, 40, Shahid, 48 and Zulfikar sustained multiple injuries.
The injured were rushed to the Services Hospital, except Farhan, who was taken to the General Hospital for treatment by Rescue 1122 ambulance.