KARACHI: A large number of people facing hardships because of lockdown imposed by the Sindh government to control the spread of coronavirus stormed a place on the National Highway near Quaidabad to get rations on Wednesday morning, said witnesses and officials.

They added that the Saylani Welfare Trust had announced that it would distribute essential items among the poor and deserving people.

Around seven to eight thousand people gathered at the Manzil pump flyover to get the essential food items.

The organisation distributed food among estimated 2,500 to 3,000 people and their stock was exhausted.

When the distribution finished, those who could not get anything became agitated and attacked the distribution counters and office.

The law-enforcement agencies personnel present there controlled the situation.

Later on, the people remained there for around half an hour and dispersed, said the police.

51 arrested for violating lockdown

The police on Wednesday said that a total of 151 people were arrested across Sindh for violating lockdown measures.

The citizens were held for violating Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code and hoarding of masks, sanitizers, gloves, etc.

Giving details of the arrests, the police sources said that a total of 14 were detained in Karachi — 12 in East zone, two in South zone.

The South zone police seized 170 masks from suspected hoarders.

Moreover, 14 citizens were detained in Hyderabad, nine in Mirpurkhas, 60 in Sukkur, 54 in Larkana range where 40 FIRs were registered, but no arrest was made in Shaheed Benazirabad range.

Suspected robber killed

A suspect was shot dead allegedly by his accomplice in Surjani Town early on Wednesday morning, said police.

They added that two persons armed with axe and gun tried to loot a van on Northern Bypass near Surjani Town.

As the driver didn’t stop the van, the suspect opened fire, which hit his accomplice on the chest, who died on the spot.

The other suspect escaped and the driver narrated this information to the police, who were trying to ascertain the identity of the deceased.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2020