Shopkeepers booked for blocking national highway

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, February 21

The police on Friday registered a criminal case against shopkeepers of Bargari who blocked the Amritsar-Bathinda national highway over the rising incidents of theft, snatching and drug-related crime on Thursday.

Many members and office-bearers of the Shopkeepers Association of Bargari, along with some unidentified persons, have been booked under Section 8-B of the National Highways Act.

The FIR says the protest obstructed the flow of traffic. Residents rued that instead of fulfilling their demands, the police were threatening us of dire consequences. They resorted to protests after all requests to the authorities went unheard, they said.

“During the protest, an ASP rank police officer came to the spot and assured us of taking action in the matter, after which we withdrew the stir. But instead of fulfilling his promise, they have booked use in a criminal case,” said a shopkeepers.