LAHORE: Police have taken into custody six suspects for their alleged involvement in the killing of a student in a clash between PML-N and PTI activists in Khanewal.

Those taken into custody included Muhammad Iftikhar, the principal suspect who allegedly attacked the deceased with a dagger and killed him, according to police sources.

“We have arrested almost all accused who clashed during Independence Day celebrations, killed Amir Ali on Aug 16 and injured others,” said Sajid Ali, a Khanewal-based official of the Punjab police’s homicide section -- a department dedicated to capture and interrogate criminals involved in heinous offences. “The number of accused under police custody is six, including the main accused Muhammad Iftikhar.”

On Aug 14, two groups, reportedly one from the PML-N and the other PTI, scuffled after shouting slogans against each other during Independence Day celebrations. Both groups gathered again after a couple of days and clashed, leaving Amir, a second year student and PML-N supporter, dead and others injured.

On the application of Amir’s father, police registered a first information report (FIR) against several nominated and unidentified suspects.

“We cannot term this case political, as it is yet to be investigated. The complainant himself has declared in the FIR that neither he nor his deceased son had any political enmity. It is just a simple case as both groups fought, resulting in the death of the boy,” Sajid explained. “There will surely be justice with Amir’s family.”

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2017