LAHORE: City police wielded to batons on the angry protesters as they disrupted the traffic flow to protest against the prolonged power suspension in the Green Town area on Sunday. The police also detained more than 20 protesters for creating lawlessness like situation in the commercial neighbourhood.
Eyewitnesses said that several protesters and policemen were also wounded in the clash, which triggered in the Baghrian locality. The area turned into battlefield as the police resorted to baton charge on the protesters, who also pelted the police with stones.
According to local residents, the power supply has been disconnected in the Green Town area for the last six months. The prolonged power suspension in the humid weather forced many residents to come to the streets to protest against the authorities.
They further said that despite making repeated complaints, the staff of Lahore Electric Power Company (LESCO) did not bother to restore the supply. “We were left with no choice except to stage protest against the long power cuts in the area,” Hassan Ahmed, one of the protesters told reporters. The protesters were demanding the authorities to get the power supply restored first and then they would allow the police to reopen the road for the general traffic. The police launched crackdown on the protesters and arrested more than 20 persons as they refused to disperse. However, they were released after successful negotiations. No case was registered against anyone. A Lesco official claimed that the power supply had been disconnected because of regular complaints of power theft in the locality.–Staff Reporter