The anti-encroachment operation launched by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in Islamabad fruit and vegetable market, commonly known as ‘Sabzi Mandi’ on Thursday claimed lives of two traders as cables of high power electricity supply line fell on them.
The CDA’s enforcement department staff reportedly started the operation of removing encroachments in the market, during which high voltage electricity wire fell on the people the standing below. As a result Mushtaq Ahmed and Arshid Mehmood were electrocuted while another person sustained injuries. The two deceased belonged to Azad Kashmir.
After the incident a large number of traders gathered at the venue and started chanting slogans against the CDA. The protesters later marched towards the IJP Road and blocked it. The traffic remained suspended for several hours.
A heavy contingent of police reached the area to control the situation.
Talking to media, the protesting traders said that they had submitted an application in the Sabzi Mandi Police Station for registering a case against the officials of CDA’s enforcement department, but the police refused to lodge a first information report.
They demanded that the culprits should be booked and brought to justice.