Crime check: Ghulam Muhammabad residents protest street crime

Say mugging in broad daylight has become common.

FAISALABAD: Scores of residents and traders of Ghulam Muhammadabad staged a protest against police on Friday for failing to curb crime.

The protesters gathered in the main Ghulam Muhammadabad bazaar and blocked an intersection for traffic by erecting blockades and burning old tyres.

Talking to newsmen, Amjad Ali, one of the protesters, said robbers were roaming freely and committing crimes in broad day light.

“Mugging has become so common that one is barely shocked when is help,” he said.

“They ride motorbikes and take away purses, mobile phones, jewellery, cash and whatever they can get their hands on,” he said.

He said hundreds of people had complained about muggings and robberies but police had done nothing to curb crime in the area.

“Once, some people caught robbers and handed them over to police,” he said. “They were later let go and not prosecuted.”

Abdur Rauf, another protester, said two of his cousins were going to Juma Bazaar when two men riding a motorbike had intercepted them.

“They snatched their purses and jewellery and fled,” he said.

The protesters chanted slogans against police and demanded arrest of criminals.

The Gulberg DSP visited the scene and met the protesters. He assured them that security in the area would be stepped up and the criminals would be nabbed soon. The protesters dispersed on this assurance.

Ghulam Muhammadabad SHO Saif Bhatti said police were investigating all registered complaints.

“No one came has lodged a complaint about a purse snatching incident involving two women,” he said.

“We have asked the protesters to come to the police station and register an FIR. We are waiting for them but no one has come forward so far,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2015.