FAISALABAD, Aug 30: Scores of villagers expressed their concern over the rising incidence of robberies and lashed out at police officials during an open court held here on Thursday at Chak 61-RB.

Additional Inspector General Talat Mehmood, DIG (operations) Mohammad Aslam Tareen and SSP (investigation) Rana Mohammad Iqbal listened to complaints of the people.

One Zaheer Ashraf said a couple of days ago dacoits held a number of villagers hostage at gunpoint and deprived them of cash and valuables. He claimed that a police picket was inches away from the crime incident, however, no action was taken. Mr Ashraf said villagers had to face the wrath of police officials whenever they tried to chase the dacoits with their own licenced weapons.

“We are detained at police stations though we have licenced arms.”

Robbers reigned supreme in several areas and no police official seemed to be ready to extend help to villagers, Mohammad Husain, 65, said.

He suggested that police should evolve the patrolling strategy with the collaboration of villagers.

Tasleem Bibi made a hue and cry over the abduction of her 16-year-old daughter. She said kidnappers had demanded ransom for her release and police seemed helpless in this regard.

Earlier, police officials had selected Chak 90-RB, Chitti for the open court but changed the venue later on.

Chak 90-RB is the place where a 13-member dacoits’ gang had allegedly raped two daughters and a daughter-in-law of retired armyman Jamat Ali. However, not a single family member was there to ask the officials about the status of the case.

The AIG also kept mum over the issue and did not apprise the villagers about the development of the Jamat Ali’s house robbery case.

A police official requesting anonymity said high-ups of the provincial government had instructed the district police to hold the open court at Chak 90-RB.

Regarding the changing of the venue, he said: “Had we held the open court at Chak 90-RB, the media would have focused the Jamat Ali issue?”

The open court proceedings were marred when two parties abused each other even in the presence of the AIG. A few scuffles were also seen at the end of the event.