MANSEHRA, Jan 31: A double murder case, in which a local journalist is charged, on Thursday took a new turn after an uncle of the slain brothers moved the court for registration of FIR against police for picking the two up.

Mian Said Abdullah filed the application with the court of district and sessions judge here under Section 22-A of the Criminal Procedure Code.

He said city police picked up his three nephews from house and later two of them were found dead, while the third one was shifted to the police lockup.

Police had booked and arrested journalist and Mansehra Press Club secretary general Ibrar Tanoli for involvement in the killing of Aleemullah Shah and his brother, Zakir Shah, on Wednesday.

In the application for registration of FIR against policy, Mr Abdullah said at about 4:30am on Jan 30, the city police came to their house in Dub 2 area and took away Waliullah, Aleemullah Shah and Zakir Shah in his presence.

He added that later, the local residents and police informed him and other family members that the bodies of Aleemullah Shah and Zakir Shah were lying at King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, while Waliullah Shah was kept at the city police lockup.

The applicant said the city police later contacted him asking him to name the killers.

“I asked them that you had taken away my nephews in my and my family’s presence, so you should better tell us about where they are now,” he added.

Mr Abdullah pleaded the court to order registration of the case against police and asked the senior superintendent of police, the deputy superintendent of police and station house officer of the city police to lodge an FIR against police officials, who raided his house and took away three of his nephews.

Both the slain brothers and their family had migrated from Swat to Mansehra after being displaced by conflict.

ANTI-ENCROACHMENT DRIVE: The tehsil administration on Thursday began a campaign against encroachments in Balakot and destroyed illegal structures and removed goods from outside shops.

“We want the city clean and free of encroachments and that’s why we’ve begun to destroy illegal structures in the city and removing goods illegally placed by shopkeepers on the roads or by the roadside,” assistant commissioner of Balakot Khalid Zaman told reporters.

The campaign was carried out between the entrance to Balakot city and Ayub Bridge.

Mr Zaman said in the second phase, the administration would end illegal minibus terminals in the city.

“We’ve already issued notices to managers of these terminals to wrap up their illegal business on voluntary basis to prevent crackdown,” he said.

The AC said the anti-encroachment campaign would help ease traffic chaos and widen roads.

He also said work on the Red Zone health and educational projects were in progress and would be completed within the stipulated time to the benefit of the local residents.