FAISALABAD, March 25: The city on Sunday witnessed violent and scattered protests against prolonged power outages staged by power-loom workers and owners during which private properties were attacked and looted, shopkeepers thrashed and forced to close their shops.

The police were looking helpless in the face of violent protests and mostly played the role of silent spectators. The city wore the look of a lawless place being ruled by violent mob.

The protest rallies were taken out in different areas including Samundri Road, Jhang Road, Jinnah Colony, Haji Abad, Ghulam Mohammad Abad, Novelty Bridge, Korian Pull, Roshan Wala Bypass.

In many areas violent protesters were witnessed playing hide and seek with a not so pro-active police. Stick-wielding protesters from Narawala Road entered Bhawana Bazaar and tried to force the shopkeepers to close their establishments. The shopkeepers retaliated by thrashing the protesters. The situation aggravated after a hoax that a labourer had died after suffering torture at the hands of some traders, turning the protest more violent.

The power-loom workers protesting at Bhawana Bazaar also claimed that one of their colleagues had suffered a bullet injury after a trader opened fire on them. However, the claim could not be confirmed independently.

On Samundri Road the protesters thrashed some passersby who tried to move ahead through the agitators to reach their respective destinations. An unidentified man was also pushed by the mob into a nearby canal. The protesters looted soft drink bottles loaded on a passing by vehicle, forcing the driver to flee.

Some protesters damaged the building of a bank in Samanabad where fruit vendors were also among those who faced their wrath and were deprived of their merchandise, besides being thrashed.

At some places private vehicles and advertisement hoardings were also damaged by protesters.

Meanwhile, Cloth Board, a body of traders dealing in cloth, announced a strike on Tuesday against the increase in rates of electricity and excessive loadshedding.

Similarly, Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries has also announced protest demonstrations on Tuesday against power outages and tariff and said industrialists would not pay electricity bills if the menace persisted.

Labour Qaumi Movement, a body representing power-loom workers, announced protest on March 28 against prolonged electricity loadshedding. No case has so far been registered with any police station of the city against the protesters.