Scores of shopkeepers in Millat Town on Tuesday staged a protest demonstration against what they called police failure in controlling crime in the area.
The protesters brandished clubs, iron rods and hockey sticks and blocked the main Faisalabad-Sargodha Road for traffic. They were chanting slogans against police inefficiency and demanded action to curb the high rate of crime and lawlessness in the area. They said that armed robbery had become commonplace and police only responded to complaints in a stereotyped manner.
Muhammad Amin, one of the protesters, said the incidence of crime in Millat Town had spiked due to the indifferent attitude of police. “Incidents of criminals breaking into shops in broad daylight had become commonplace.”
“Three armed men forced entry into Arshad Mehmood’s building material shop in Millat Town at around 3 pm and held the employees at gunpoint.” They snatched Rs79,000 and fled while warning the shopkeeper of dire consequences if he raised alarm, he said.
Nasir Iqbal, another protester, said, “We informed the police but they arrived at the scene an hour-and-a-half later.”
He said had the police responded immediately the robbers might have been arrested. The protesters chanted slogans against the police and demanded the immediate arrest of the robbers.
The Nishatabad deputy superintendent police and Millat Town station house officer arrived at the scene and assured the protesters that the robbers would be arrested soon. The protesters dispersed after the assurance.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2014.
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