Kasur Incident: Protest erupts on third day after brief return of normal life

KASUR (92 News) – Protests have continued in Kasur for a third day, with reports of demonstrations in city’s several areas despite warnings from authorities. The violence which erupted in the city of Kasur after the rape and murder of an seven-year-old Zainab continued on the third day. The agitating protesters blocked the entry and exit routes of the city, while heavy contingent of police have been deployed inside the government buildings to avoid any untoward situation. The markets, business centers and educational institutions have been closed in the city after earlier reports that the life in the city was coming back to routine after two days of deadly protests. Few shops were opened after being shut for at least two days as traders announced an end to their strike and the traffic began plying on roads that had been blocked by enraged residents protesting the gruesome incident. Zainab, a resident of Road Kot area of Kasur, had gone missing on January 4 when she was heading back to her house from the tuition center. Her body was found in a garbage pile near her house five days later. A post-mortem report confirmed that Zainab had been brutally assaulted. The report found injuries on her body and face, and a bone in her neck fractured. On Thursday, protesters have set a government office on fire in Kasur during the second day of riots. The protesters had thrown stones on the buildings of the government hospital, police and deputy commissioner's office. Protesters threw stones at government buildings and set cars and a local politician's office alight, complaining that police had not done more to stop violence against children. On Wednesday, demonstrators armed with sticks and stones stormed the deputy commissioner’s office during protests over the girl’s death. Two people died of gunshot wounds after the police opened fire on the protestors and several others were injured. Footage on television showed policemen firing directly at the mob before being told by their superiors to fire in the air. The Punjab government announced Rs 10m reward for anyone who helps police find and arrest Zainab's killer, and has offered Rs 3m each to the families of those killed by police on Wednesday. Zainab's father, Ameen Ansari, said that he did not agree with the violence of protesters, but understood the anger at police. "If the police had done their jobs properly then they would have found her as soon as they got hold of the CCTV," he said. Local politicians have met the family and promised the killer would be caught.