HYDERABAD, Jan 23: Around 150 power looms owners took to the streets here on Thursday after activists of a nationalist party torched the warehouse of Fareed Ansari, one of the owner of power looms.

According to the brother of Fareed Ansari, Alam Ansari, the activists of a nationalist party had torched his brother’s shop after his brother had refused to pay them extortion money.

Following the incident, the owners of power looms of Paretabad took to the streets, effectively blocking the Phuleli Bridge.

They called for the arrests of the activists responsible for the arson incident, adding that they would not pay any amount in extortion to any political group. No case was registered till the filing of this report.

The SHO, Pinyari police station, Rahat Zaidi, told Dawn that according to one of the employees of Fareed Ansari, Hidayatullah, three persons, identified as Sikandar Asnari of Tando Jam, Gul Mohammad Bhatti of Qasimabad and Papu Bhatti, had come to the shop and demanded money.

When the miscreants were refused, they threw a bottle containing petrol, as a result of which the shop caught fire, the SHO said.

He said that the complainant has not yet come to the police station to lodge an FIR.