TIMERGARA: The traders and residents of Khall demanded of the authorities here on Wednesday to take action against the police officials, who, according to them, tortured shopkeepers and local people.

Addressing a press conference, the representatives of traders and local elders alleged that Khall police and Elite Force illegally tortured shopkeepers, passers-by and common people. The police officials damaged the properties of traders and broke glasses of their vehicles.

They demanded of inspector general of police to take notice of the matter and punish the officials involved in the incident. The traders also observed complete shutter down strike. All markets of Khall Bazaar remained closed for on Wednesday.

However, DPO Qasim all Khan rejected the allegations of traders.

He said that the law enforcers were talcing an arrested drug pusher to the police station when some political activists tried to free him forcibly. He alleged that they injured a policeman and tore the uniform of another official. He said that Elite Force was called in to control the situation.

Mr Khan said that the matter would be resolved according to law and no one would be allowed totake law into his hands. About the traders` strike, he said that talks were under way with them.

On the other hand, local people and traders alleged that police officials even beat women and children at Khall Bazaar. Soon after the incident, the traders and local people came on the road and closed all markets in the area.

They said that traders had agreed to hand over the persons involved in clash with police but in the meantime scores of Elite Force and Khall police officials reached thespotandbegantobeatthepeople, who had gathered there. Police also fired shots in the air that spread panic, they added.

BY-POLLS: Izazul Mulk Afkari, the candidate of Jamaat-i-Islami for by-election on PK-95, has said that their party was the strongest one in the constituency and it would celebrate the victory on May 8.

He was addressing party meetings in different villages of Jandol on Wednesday. The meetings were also addressed by Maulana Azizul Haq, Malik Sher Bahadar Khan and otherlocalleaders ofJL Mr Afkari, who is also emir of JI in the district, said that people of the constituency had strong linkages with their party and they had been voting to it for decades. He also visited Timergara Press Club and urged journalists to play role in reforming the society.