Scuffle on the street: Shopkeepers protest traffic police ‘brutality’

Say a traffic warden and his colleague beat up a shopkeeper after he demanded payment for a coat

FAISALABAD: Scores of Landa Bazaar shopkeepers on Saturday staged a protest demonstration against traffic wardens for beating up a colleague.

The demonstrators gathered at Narwala Road and blocked it for traffic by burning old tyres.

Baba Rafaqat, president of the Landa Bazaar Association, told newsmen Sarwar, a traffic warden, had picked up an overcoat from Ali Raza’s shop but did not pay him.

He said when the shopkeeper demanded payment, the traffic warden abused him, and dragged him outside by his hair.

He said the traffic warden beat up the shopkeeper on Narwala Road.

He said several wardens converged on the spot and joined their colleague in the beating. He said Raza begged for mercy but the men did not stop.

Rafaqat said other shopkeepers raised alarm and gathered to rescue Raza. He said the wardens then took Raza to a police station.

The protestors chanted slogans against traffic police and demanded action against the wardens.

They said Raza should be released immediately and Sarwar and his accomplices be arrested.

The protest held up traffic on Narwala Road for several hours.

Later, a Gulberg police team visited the scene and assured the protesters that the incident would be investigated. The protesters dispersed on receiving the assurance.

Talking to newsmen, warden Muhammad Sarwar said Ali Raza had set up the his stall too close to the road.

“This was disrupting smooth flow of traffic,” he said.

“When I told him to move his stall, he misbehaved and attacked me,” he said.

“I immediately called my colleagues for help. We took him to Gulberg police station where a case was registered against him for violating traffic rules and regulations and interfering in official work of traffic police,” he added.

A Gulberg police spokesman told newsmen that police were investigating the matter.

“If Raza is found not guilty in the investigation, he will be released immediately,” he said.  “However, if he is found guilty of disrupting traffic and attacking traffic warden, he will be taken to task in accordance with law,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2015.