LAHORE, July 30: The Harbanspura police foiled an attempt of locals of Lal Pul, Maskeenpura, to set an alleged robber on fire after catching him and giving him a sound thrashing on Wednesday, witnesses said.

The infuriated mob was about to set the captured robber, later identified as Noman, ablaze but intervention of some notables and the police saved his life.

Chaudhry Nazir, a local resident, told Dawn that two bikers were trying to loot a man but passers-by captured one Noman while his accomplice fled.

The mob first gave him a sound thrashing and later doused him with petrol to set him ablaze, he added.

Meanwhile, the Hurbanspura police reached there and rescued the alleged robber.

Nazir said the same robbers had deprived one Asif of Rs3,200 and a cell phone in the same area at around 10pm on Tuesday. The police registered a case against Noman.

CASES: The City Traffic Police got two cases registered against two managers and two hawkers for running illegal bus stands and receiving extortion from Ravi Road, Lorri Adda and Shahdara areas on Wednesday.