MAILSI-Six workers died of suffocation while cleaning a disposal well and three others were rescued here in suburban village Jallah Jeem on Sunday. The incident sparked a violent protest while the police resorted to baton charge and shelling to control the situation.
According to details, the TMA Mailsi workers along with six labourers were de-silting a disposal well in Union Council Jallah Jeem area. During the work three workers including the TMA employees went into the well to fix motor fan but they fell unconscious and drowned. Meanwhile, six other labourers rushed into the well for their rescue but they also fainted due to poisonous gas in the well. Resultantly six of the workers including the TMA employees identified as Muhammad Naseer, Muhammad Ikram, Tahir Mateen, Muhammad Fiaz, Muhammad Shah Nawaz and Muhammad Iqbal died while three others including Muhammad Aslam, Ghulam Qadir and Ghulam Nabi were rescued by Rescue 1122.
Meanwhile, scores of locals who were gathered at the scene ran amuck in protest against the TMA and poor management of the Rural Health Centre Jallah Jeem.
The enraged people attacked the BHU and the adjacent house of its MO Dr Mian Fazil and ransacked and set ablaze furniture, household items and a vehicle.
The protesters also attacked BHC MS Dr Atta Zafar and thrashed him. Meanwhile, Vehari DCO Jawad Akram and DPO Sadiq Ali Dogar also reached the spot but the protesters locked them in the building. The protesters accused Dr Fazli of refusing to treat the fainted workers due to stink.
Meanwhile, the Vehari DCO suspended Dr Fazili, Dr Shazia Fazil and ambulance driver on the charges of negligence.
On the other hand, the police resorted to baton charge and shelling to dispersed the protesters. The Vehari DPO called in police personnel from Vehari, Khanewal and Lodhran to control the situation. In the meanwhile, Multan RPO Ameen Vence also reached the spot and addressed the locals. He promised that the DCO and DPO would hold an open court in Jallah Jeem to fix responsibility to take action against the guilty persons. Later, the protesters dispersed
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced Rs0.5 million for the families of each of the six deceased. The CM also ordered registration of a case against BHU Medical Superintendent Dr Atta Zafar.
wheat support price:The wheat growers have rejected the increase in the support price of wheat here the other day.  Talking to the media, farmers leader and prominent agriculturalist Mian Riaz Ahmad Sandhal opposed the increase in the support price of wheat, saying that it should be fixed at Rs1,500 per 40kg.
He urged the Punjab Chief Minister to announce support price of Rs1,500. Those who had supplied it before April 12 should be compensated by payment of differential amount immediately, he demanded.