QUETTA, April 3: Complete shutter down strike was observed in Chaman on Wednesday in protest against the grenade attack on a house by dacoits claiming two lives and injuring 35.

All shopping centres, shops, markets and business establishments remained closed in the town in response to the call given by organizations of the business community and political parties. Traffic remained thin on the main roads of the town. The currency dealers also joined the strike, keeping their business closed for the second day.

The Frontier Corps, Balochistan reserve police, levies and police were deployed but no untoward incident was reported.

In the attack that took place two days back in a village, two armed men had hurled a grenade on the house of Abdul Samad while fleeing after they faced resistance in looting the inmates. Owner of the house was killed and 36 persons were injured, at least six of them seriously. The injured included eight women and seven children. An injured succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. This was the third similar incident in the area. The protesting traders said that if the administration failed to arrest the dacoits, they would continue the strike indefinitely.

A public meeting, presided over by a businessman, Haji Habibullah Khan, was also held. He said the administration had failed to provide security to the people. “We are peaceful people and we want protection and security for smoothly running our business in the border town,” he said.