CHARSADDA: Eight people, including three security personnel, were killed in parts of Charsadda district in targeted attacks and other incidents during last four days.

The three security personnel included one Rangers’ and two Mohmand Rifles officials. Police said that Fakhar-i-Alam of Pakistan Rangers, currently posted in Karachi, was gunned down by unknown assailants in the limits of city police station here. He was on Eid holidays at his hometown Muslimabad when unknown assailants on a motorcycle opened fire on him. The attackers wearing masks escaped after the incident.

At Ziarat Kallay, unknown assailants shot dead FC official Ruhul Amin. The attackers had come on a motorcycle and fled after the incident. Mr Amin was going for duty in Mohmand Agency when he was attacked. Tangi police have registered an FIR against unknown assailants.

Another FC official, Sajid Hussain belonging to Karak district, was gunned down by unknown attackers when he was offering prayer in a roadside mosque in Shabqadar. He was also going for his duty in Mohmand Agency. In this case too the attackers came on a motorcycle and fled after the attack.

In the city police station limits, three armed robbers stormed a general store where its owner Khalid was injured during scuffle with them. The accused were decamping with cash, but local people chased and opened fire on them. As a result, one alleged robber identified as Shahid was killed while two others escaped. A passer-by woman was also injured during the exchange of fire.

In Ghano Kallay one Raweed allegedly shot dead his father Murad after exchange of hot words over a petty issue. Omarzai police have registered the case. In Nesata village, two brothers exchanged fire in which their niece Sana Gul was hit and killed. The police lodged an FIR against the accused and have started investigation.

The body a one-year-old boy was recovered from fields in the jurisdiction of Khanmai police. The body was buried by Al-Khidmat Foundation volunteers there for the time being till identification.

An elderly man, Ali Rehman, died after a stray bullet hit him in the chest while he was sleeping in his house in Tangi. In yet another incident, one Mujahid allegedly shot dead one Ashiq Shah in the city police limits.

People in the district have expressed grave concern over the growing incidents of targeted killings and demanded of the district administration to enhance security and efficiently perform their duty.

Published in Dawn, Aug 2nd , 2014