ABBOTTABAD: Army was called out to control the situation after a clash between traders and residents of Sheikhul Bandi on Wednesday over parking of a car in Bara market killed one person and injured eight others.

Following the clash, panicked shopkeepers pulled down their shutters, as traffic was diverted to other routes owing to closure of the main Abbottabad-Murree Road for over seven hours, according to eyewitnesses.

The deceased was identified as Naeem, a tailor at the market. The injured included Shezad Kiyani, Faisal, Junaid, Jadoon, Ali Gohar, Safdar Khan and Ayaz Akbar. The injured were taken to the district headquarters hospital, wherefrom four critically injured were referred to Ayub Medical Complex Abbottabad.

Police said that the market owner and shopkeepers allegedly damaged the car parked by a resident of Sheikhul Bandi area, which led to the brawl between the traders and residents and later turned into a violent clash.

Eyewitnesses said that both sides used sophisticated weapons in the exchange of fire. They said that local residents also alleged that the killing and injuries were caused when police opened fire to disperse the crowd. According to the eyewitnesses, the people demanded judicial inquiry into the matter.

FIR of the case was not registered till filing of this report.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2015

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