RAHIM YAR KHAN: Bodies of seven out of the eight labourers gunned down after being kidnapped two days ago in Sakran area of Lasbela district reached Taranda Muhammad Pannah, their native area, some 100km from here, on Monday.

On Sunday, Sajjad Shah, Rajab, Shafiq, Nasir and Shafiq Jhulan, Aslam Dhandu, Arshad Dhandu and three others were working in a poultry farm in Lasbela when gunmen forced their way in, checked their identities and shot eight of them dead.

Their bodies were received by Liaquatpur Assistant Commissioner (AC) Zahoor Husain Buhatta and other officers at the Khan Bela toll plaza.

Families and relatives of the deceased had also gathered on the national highway at Janpur against the killing, suspending traffic for three hours.

Later, District Coordination Officer (DCO) Nabeel Javed, Assistant Commissioner Zahoor Husain Buhatta, Superintendent of Police (Investigation) Tariq Elahi Mastoi assured the families that they would be paid compensation at which the protesters dispersed.

Rahim Yar Khan DCO Nabeel Javed told this correspondent the Balochistan government had announced Rs1 million for families of each of the deceased and he would send a request to the Punjab government for further relief to the families. He further said he had contacted Lasbela DCO Fuad Soomro for immediate arrest of the assailants and he assured him of cooperation.

DCO Javed, District Police Officer Sohail Zaffar Chattha and AC Buhatta attended the funeral prayers of the seven labourers, which were offered at their native villages.

MUZAFFARGARH: Meanwhile, body of Sajjad Ahmed, the eighth labourer killed in Lasbela, reached DHQ Hospital here on Monday.

However, no one came forward to claim it.

Talking to Dawn, Rana Zulfiqar, a resident of Shehr Sultan from where Ahmad reportedly belonged, said the local trader union had announced in the main mosques of Alipur and Jatoi cities regarding identification of Ahmed but no one seemed to know him.

Hundreds of people had reached the hospital after hearing the news of the body’s arrival. Later, the traders buried him in the city graveyard.

Zulfiqar said the traders contacted Haji Ali, owner of the poultry farm in Lasbela, who told them the labourer’s name was Sajjad Ahmed, he was a resident of Shehr Sultan in Muzaffargarh and had joined the farm a month ago.

Ali also claimed Ahmed’s identity card was found in his pocket and his name was in the farm’s attendance register.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2014