GUJRANWALA: Enraged protestors have set ablaze an inter-city train in Gujranwala that operates between Lahore and Sialkot as power riots take an ugly turn in the Punjab, Geo News reported Monday.
According to sources, the irate people who were protesting against unscheduled and prolonged electricity loadshedding set on fire Baoo Train at Kamonki area to give vent to their anger.
The fire completely gutted three carriages of the train, however, no casualties were reported as there were no passengers on board.
No law enforcement personnel could be seen at or around the scene of the riot nor any rescue team reached there to deal with the emergency.
Earlier, violent protests against incessant loadshedding continued in several areas of the Punjab while one protestor also lost his life when protestors took to streets in Khanewal.
According to sources, protestors gathered outside Prime Minister Gilani’s special advisor Ahmed Yar Hiraj’s house and pelted stones. His guards then resorted to firing that injured three protestors, out of which one later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
In Faisalabad, demonstrators blocked Samundri Road and protested against unannounced power cuts while factory owners reached Mepco’s office.
Protests also took place in Gojra and Mandi Bahauddin where demonstrators blocked the main intersection.
In Sargodha, angry residents of the suburban areas damaged Wapda office where police were called to disperse the crowd and control the situation.
The protestors in Chakwal blocked the Lahore-Islamabad motorway. They burnt flags of a political party and chanted slogans against the government.
A large number of students also resorted to protest against power outages in Lower Dir of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and blocked the Dir-Afghanistan highway.
On Monday, frustrated with persistent loadshedding, enraged residents torched the city police station gate and several police motorcycles in Chichawatni. They also attacked an MNA’s house due to which police has registered a case against 1,200 persons and arrested ten others who were allegedly involved in the violence.