SWABI: The people of Pontya village blocked Swabi-Topi road for about three hours on Thursday, alleging that the demarcation of common land was not carried by the district administration despite repeated requests by them.

The protesters reached Topi tehsil headquarters and marched to Safdar Chock where they blocked the road to all kinds of traffic. They chanted slogans against the officials of the relevant department, alleging that they enjoyed good relations with a few influential people of the area and didn’t care for common villagers.

A heavy contingent of police was deployed at the venue to prevent people from turning violent. The protesters said that nothing short of meeting their demand was acceptable to them.

They said that the officials concerned would be responsible if the local people started killing each other over the land dispute. They said that delay in the process would cause rivalry among the locals.

Later, the assistant commissioner and other officials held talks with the leaders of the protesters and assured them that the process would be completed according to the demand of the locals. After the assistance, the protesters dispersed peacefully and reopened the road to traffic. However, the commuters faced enormous problems owing to the blockade of road.

SHOPS: Two shops were looted in Tarbela Dam Right Bank Colony by unidentified robbers, said local traders.

They said that it was the first time during the last three decades that shops were looted in the colony. The area falls in high security zone and no outsider is allowed to enter or stay in the residential colonies.

They said that the robbers broke the locks and took away Rs100,000 cash from the shop of Rasool Khan. The other shopkeeper was also deprived of valuables. They said that the robbers must be traced by police because if the law enforcing failed to arrest the looters it would encourage others.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2020