LAHORE: The relatives of a deceased youth on Saturday blocked the traffic on a main road in Nawab Town by placing his body on it and lodged a protest against the police for their failure to arrest the suspected killers.

The protesters, including neighbours of the deceased, took to the street shortly after Zuhaib (22) succumbed to his injuries in hospital after a month-long treatment.

The protesters told the media Zuhaib was stabbed and injured critically by the suspects, identified as Umair and Zill Shah, over a petty issue. They said Zuhaib was shifted to the hospital where he died on Saturday.

The protesters alleged that a case was lodged against the suspects but the investigation police declared them innocent when Zuhaib was struggling for life.

Zuhaib’s parents said the police were looking in a hurry to complete investigations as the suspects’ sister was serving as a police inspector. They alleged that the inspector had used her influence and the investigation police backed the killers. They demanded action against the suspected killers as well as the police officials involved.

The protesters continued agitation for a couple of hours and dispersed when the senior police officers met them and assured them of justice.

Shot Dead: A young man was allegedly shot dead by two armed men at his doorstep in Mozang on Saturday.

Identified as Illyas, the young man was a resident of Mozang Chungi, a police official said, adding that he had left his house to get breakfast from a local hotel. He said some youngsters scuffled with Illyas when he asked them to wait for their turn at the shop. The hotel owner and passersby resolved the issue and Illyas left the place and went home. As he came out of his house, he said, the young men shot at him and fled.

Illyas who suffered bullet injury was taken to hospital where he breathed his last, he said.

Police sent his body to the city morgue for autopsy and registered a murder case against unidentified killers.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2020