Shops shut to protest dacoity

Published February 5, 2008

BAHAWALPUR, Feb 4: A complete strike was observed on Monday to protest the Sunday’s dacoity in two jeweller’s shops in Hasilpur, some 90 kilometres away from here.

Around twelve dacoits had stormed into Ali Jeweller’s and Junaid Jeweller’s shops near Fawwara Chowk in main bazaar and fled after collecting jewellery and cash from the staffers. On resistance, they also shot at the staffers, killing Ali Jeweller’s security guard and injuring its owner. The police, however, spotted the fleeing dacoits and a head-constable was killed and a sub-inspector and a civilian were injured in the ensuing shootout.

Hasilpur’s Anjuman-i-Tajran gave the strike call responding to which all bazaars, markets and business centres remained closed. Retailers coming from rural areas for purchasing, however, faced inconvenience.

The traders’ body later held a meeting, which was addressed by its president Sheikh Muhammed Alam and other office-bearers. They demanded that the dacoits be arrested immediately.

The police were, however, yet clueless despite the passage of around two days after the gruesome incident.