GUJRAT: Traders lodged a strong protest on Sunday and blocked Sargodha Road for traffic after some unidentified armed robbers took away Rs1.15 million cash from a wholesale grocery store in the broad daylight in the city area.

Eyewitnesses said the robbers also fired gun shots af ter entering the grocery store to terrorise people present there.

The incident occurred just a few yards away from Shaheen Chowk police station on Sargodha Road, causing serious concern among the local traders, who resorted to a protest demonstration against the rising incidents of robbery and theft in the city.

Police said five unidentified armed robbers riding on two motorbikes arrived at the Zaman Traders, a wholesale store owned by a businessman, Waqas Younis. The robbers collected Rs850,000 from the cash counter, snatched Rs300,000 from a customer, Ali, who had come there to purchase goods for his general store and fled the scene.

Following the robbery, local traders gathered at the scene and blocked Sargodha Road in protest and chanted slogans against the police for failing to controlcrime in the city.

Earlier, on Saturday night some unidentifled thieves took away cell phones worth Rs1 million from the shop of Mehr Aamir in a market on Sargodha Road near Staff Gala.

Police said they were investigating both incidents before registering cases.

A team of forensic experts reached the site and collected evidence from the crime scene, besides footage of close circuit TV cameras installed in the area.

City circle DSP Parvez Gondal later held negotiations with the protesting traders and assured them of registration of the robbery and theft cases and arrest of the culprits, after which the protesters dispersed peacefully. Meanwhile, at least five motorbikes were stolen in various parts of Gujrat in the last couple of days. Police have registered the cases.

In another incident, unidentified thieves had taken away 23 tola gold ornaments worth around Rs2 million from the house of one Ghulam Abbas, of Gulliana village, a couple of days ago.

Concerned citizens, including traders, have urged the Punjab government to take notice of the rising incidents of robbery and theft in Gujrat and take measures to curb such crimes.