Punjab

Unlawful assembly? : Villagers attack police for trying to stop dog fights

13 people, including 5 policemen, injured in clash.

Our Correspondent August 25, 2014

FAISALABAD:

Police clashed with villagers on Sunday after they tried to stop a fair. Thirteen people, including five policemen, were injured in the clash.

The villagers had arranged a dog-fight on the eve of the annual mela of Muraad Shah in Pir Sain village.

On receiving information about it, a contingent of Garh police, headed by the SHO, raided the area. They allegedly demanded bribes from the fair organisers.

However, the villagers refused to pay a bribe to the policemen, who then ordered them to disperse.

When the participants did not pay any heed to the police directives, the policemen baton-charged them.

The villagers attacked the police party with sticks, rods, bricks and stones.

During the clash, 13 people, including three women, four children and five policemen sustained injuries and were taken to hospital.

Police arrested four suspects and took them to the police station.

Hundreds of villagers staged a demonstration and chanted slogans against police.

They also demanded immediate release of the arrested people and stern action against the policemen.

The Garh police SHO told The Express Tribune that the government had imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure that prohibits public gatherings.

“Therefore, we rushed to the Pir Sain village to stop the organisers from arranging the fair, but they defied the order,” he said.

“When we tried to disperse the villagers, they attacked us with bricks and sticks. Five policemen sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital for medical treatment. However, their condition is out of danger now,” the SHO said.

“We have arrested four people who had arranged the fair and have brought them to the police station. Raids are also being conducted to arrest the remaining accused who attacked the police party,” he said. He said action would be taken against all the suspects.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2014.