The traders and shopkeepers kept their businesses and shops shuttered on a call for protest given by Hindu Panchayat again the abduction of Mukhi Jagdish Kumar, Jaideep Kumar, Hindu Sagar Kumar, Guddo, Dr Muneer Naich and several other hostages kidnapped in different areas of the district, reports Dawn News.

The protesters’ leaders Dr Mehr Chand, Harish Kumar, advocate Abdul Ghani Bijarani, Hafiz Nasrullah Chana and others demanded a massive army operation against dacoits’ rule in the region.

They told Dawn News that Hindu businessmen, including their children, had been kidnapped in many instances.

“We demand a massive army operation against the criminals and their patronizers, who have created a criminal state within a state,” they said.