KASUR: Scores of people blocked the road against the police for their failure to protect them from robbers as two robbery incidents left as many men, including a trader, injured on Friday.

The protesters blocked the Allahabad Talwandi road by burning tyres and parking tractor trolleys on it near village Pakhoki in the limits of Allahabad Police Station.

Earlier, unidentified robbers had shot at and injured a trader and a passer-by during a robbery at village Pakhoki.

Gunny bag trader, Asghar Shah, was on his way home in village Talwandi after withdrawing Rs1m from a bank. When he reached near village Pakhoki, two unidentified robbers riding a motorcycle intercepted him at gunpoint.

One of the robbers opened fire, leaving Shah and a passer-by injured.

The injured were shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital Chunian. The suspects escaped but they could not take away cash due to the hue and cry raised by the injured.

In another incident, two unidentified robbers deprived a farmer of Rs300,000 near village Sodiwal in the area of Allahabad Police Station.

The frequent robberies forced the people to take to the streets, block the road and raise their voice to demand the police protect them from the robbers. The protesters raised slogans against the police.

Later, on the assurance of local administration that the suspects would be arrested soon, the protesters dispersed peacefully.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2023