RAHIM YAR KHAN: Shocked by the murder of nine people near the Sindh border on Sunday, Sadigabad traders announced shutter-down strike in the tehsil on Tuesday (today).

Dacoits belonging to Indhar gang allegedly gunned down nine men at a petrol pump near Chowk Mahl for informing police about their criminal activities and hideouts.

At a news conference on Monday, representatives of Anjuman Tajran, social and religious circles sought action against senior police officers deputed in the district and Bahawalpur police range for their failure to take action against the gangin time.

A large number of people attended funeral prayers for the slain at Chowk Mahl.

Some locals told the media that Janu Indhar Gang was active in the area again and Janu was spotted near SadigabadGuudu road but the policedid not arrest him.

They said traders and farmers were living in a constant state of fear as they were receiving kidnapping threats for not paying ransom.

A farmer said the slain had been killed for not paying ransom.

According to some media men working in the area, the district police had negotiated with the Indhar Gang some weeks back and offered the gang safe passage if its members laid down arms and started a normal life. But police denied making any offer to the outlaws.

Some locals were of the view that police could not control the dacoits and sought deployment of rangers.

South Punjab Additional Inspector General Police Captain retired Zafar Iqbal Awan reached Chowk Mahi and vowed to fight dacoits.

According to sources, all educational institutions will remain closed in Sadigabad on Tuesday to protest the killings and to seek the transfer of DPO and RPO.