UPPER DIR: Seven people including three policemen were injured when the earthquake victims resorted to the pelting of stones and firing in the air at a relief distribution point in Onkaar village here on Friday.

The incident occurred during the distribution of relief items including food and non-food packages by the Muslim Hands, a non-governmental organisation, and Jamaat-i-Islami at the Government School for Boys.

Scores of protesters besieged the school and held the NGO representatives, district naib nazim Hanifullah Advocate, tehsil naib nazim Mian Rustam Yousaf and policemen hostage.

They alleged that relief items were being distributed to workers of a ruling political party ignoring the genuine victims of the Oct 26 earthquake.

The protesters demanded the immediate halt to the distribution of relief items and said the goods should be given to the deserving people only.

They also threw stones at the distribution point and fired gunshots in the air. The police deployed at the school offered resistance but the mob didn’t disperse.

Seven people, including three policemen, were injured in the violence.

The protesters blocked the Dir-Peshawar Road for three to four hours.

DSP Sher Rehman Khan said the police rushed to the distribution point soon after the violence erupted and safely rescued district naib nazim Hanifullah Advocate, tehsil Dir naib nazim Mian Rustam Yousaf and Muslim Hand representatives.

He said those injured in violence were shifted to the DHQ Hospital, Dir.

Tehsil nazim Mir Makhzanuddin alleged that the Upper Dir police tortured the people’s elected representatives and NGO representatives.

Later, JI leaders and workers staged a rally at Dir Chowk.

JI leader and district naib nazim Haneefullah advocate, tehsil naib nazim Mian Rustam Yousaf and tehsil nazim Mir Makhzanuddin demanded immediate action against deputy commissioner Zakaullah Khan Khattak and DPO Israruddin Bacha over involvement in torture.

They alleged that the police didn’t stop attackers from throwing stones and firing in the air at the relief distribution point.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2016