BAHAWALPUR, June 3: Two costly antelopes were allegedly stolen from the mini zoo of the children park at Lal Sohanra National Park, about 35kms from here. It is learnt that the thieves had taken away the antelopes under the cover of darkness on Wednesday night.

When contacted on Thursday, the conservator of forests and incharge of the park, Tariq Mahmood, confirmed the theft of two costly antelopes. However, he claimed that two sons of beldar Qaim had stolen the antelopes and Lal Sohanra police had registered a case against them.

He said that the alleged culprits took away the antelopes after they first overpowered watchman Jam Qasim and tied him up with a rope. He said that the watchman was suspended from the service.

Similarly, Zafar, the forest block officer incharge, was also summoned in the office. It may be mentioned that the children park has a mini zoo for the entertainment of the visitors.

PROTEST: Clerks on Thursday launched a three-day protest drive to press for the acceptance of their demand regarding increase in their pay scales on the call of the All Pakistan Clerks Association. The clerks observed a pen-down strike and then locked their offices, causing inconvenience to the general public.