Hafizabad traders stage demo against dacoities

HAFIZABAD: A large number of traders staged a demonstration against rising incidents of dacoity at Fawara Chowk on Monday.
The protesting traders were chanting slogans against SHO Ali Akbar Chattha. They said that dacoits looted prize bonds and cash from trader Sheikh Muneer Ahmad after injuring him during a dacoity on Sunday.
About three months ago, the dacoits had injured Sheikh Muneer’s nephew Irfan Shabbir and snatched cash and prize bonds worth Rs 4 million from him, they said, adding that five days ago, dacoits looted 80 tola ornaments and Rs 500,000 from the house of trader Muhammad Riaz at Mohallah Mughalpura.
The traders said that police had so far failed to trace the dacoits. They said that the dacoity incidents were rising in the city but police were allegedly not taking steps to control them. They warned of a shutdown strike if the dacoits were not arrested in a week. When contacted, police said that they were investigating the cases and the dacoits would soon be arrested.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar has taken notice of the rising incidents of dacoity in the area. She contacted Provincial Home Minister Shuja Khanzada and expressed her disappointment over the unsatisfactory performance of police. She asked him to order police to take steps to control the crime.