KASUR: Kasur police claimed on Thursday to have arrested over 200 violent protesters of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) out of 954 booked with three police stations.

The cases were lodged against the suspects, including 104 ones, under 22 sections of the PPC, Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and the Punjab Infectious Diseases (Prevention and Control) Act 2020 in three first information reports (FIRs). According to police, the violent TLP workers were being unidentified with the help of video clips and their fellows in custody.

At least 15 police officials, including a DSP and three inspectors, suffered serious injuries during the clashes with the protesters that had unlawfully blocked the roads, throwing the traffic out of gear for about two days.

The injured were hospitalised in various hospitals where their condition was stated to be out of danger.

Video clips being used by police to identify suspects

Saddar police booked 373 TLP workers, including 23 nominated ones, Pattoki police 364, including 64 nominated ones while Kot Radha Kishan police registered a case against 217, 17 of the violent protesters nominated for blocking roads, attacking police, ransacking private and public property, firing, injuring policemen and flouting the Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) during the protests on Ferozepur Road Bypass, Mallanwala Bypass and Kasur-Kot Radha Kishan Road.

Kasur police established various teams, which were raiding the hideouts of the suspects since Wednesday night, saying the operation would continue till the arrest of all the suspects.

BAHAWALPUR: A local court sent 28 workers of TLP to Central Jail on judicial remand on Thursday.

The TLP workers were arrested by Saddar police on Wednesday for allegedly blocking the roads and hurling threats to police and common citizens.

The Saddar police had registered an FIR against them.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2021