LAHORE - The ill-fated parents along with dozens of locals staged a massive protest demonstration against Kot Lakhpat police minutes after a heinous offender gunned down a 17-year-old youth over forced tax on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Bilal, resident of Kacha Jail Road. Police investigators said that the accused Mohammad Nawaz Bhatti along with his one unidentified accomplice visited Bilals shop, located in the same area, and forced him to pay monthly money (Jagga Tax). The accused first caught the victim from his collar and demanded him money. On his refusal he threatened Bilal for dire consequences, a neighbour said. A police investigator said that the accused opened fire on Bilal as a result victim died on the spot. The accused men, however, fled from the scene. The locals gathered on the spot and claimed that the murderer Nawaz Bhatti was being patronized by a local MPA as the accused was his relative. Bhatti is notorious for criminal activities in the area. He is known as illegal occupier of plots as the MPA is backing him, a neighbour told on condition of anonymity. The MPA Ramzan Siddique Bhatti, however, denied the allegations and said none of his relatives was involved in this incident. Later, the parents and locals blocked the main road by placing dead body on it and chanted slogans against police. Police, after being informed, reached the spot and dispersed them after ensuring a strict action would be taken against the criminals. Police have also registered an FIR (705) against the two accused men on the statement of Mohammad Bashir, brother of the deceased, with no arrest till filing of this report. Further investigations are underway.