Hundreds of people belonging to Chaks 325-JB, 327-JB and 388-JB protested on the Toba Tek Singh Road and blocked it for traffic.
Ghulam Khan, one of the protesters, told The Express Tribune that the three villages had arranged a traditional donkey-cart competition in Chak 388-JB for entertainment.
“Soon after the race started, a police party arrived there and stopped two drivers– Sultan, a resident of Chak 325-JB, and Jaan Muhammad, a resident of Chak 327-JB – and accused them of betting on the race,” he said.
“They then demanded bribes from the villagers gathered there to let the race continue. When they refused, they took Sultan and Jaan into custody,” Khan said.
The protesters chanted slogans against police and demanded immediate release of the arrested villagers.
A police contingent, headed by Saddar police station house officer (SHO), visited the scene. The SHO assured the protesters that action would be taken against the policemen if they were found guilty of misconduct.
The SHO also assured the protesters that the arrested drivers would be released after an investigation.
The Saddar SHO told The Express Tribune that policemen from the Chowk Athar post had asked the race organisers about whether they had obtained permission for arranging the race.
“When the race organisers failed to show a letter permitting the race, the police team arrested two donkey cart drivers. Such permission is necessary as the government has imposed a ban on the assembly of more than three people due to the security situation in the country,” he said.
“Such races are sometimes arranged to allow betting by a large number of people,” the SHO said.
“We are investigating the matter. The donkey cart drivers will be released if there is no evidence of gambling,” the SHO said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2014.
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