KARAK: A man opened fire during an anti-polio campaign in Shahidan area of Karak on Monday, forcing vaccinators to take shelter in the nearby houses, and suspending the drive.

Police sources said polio workers were busy in their official work in Shahidan area when a person identified as Jalal opened fire on them, forcing the workers to take shelter in the nearby houses.

The sources explained that when the polio workers along with levies personnel reached the area, accused Jalal came to them and started arguing with them. He abused the workers and asked them to leave the area. However, the polio staff continued with their job, which caused the man to open fire. The sources said the polio workers remained inside the houses for several hours, and later the local elders intervened to calm down the situation, and the accused was removed from the area. However, polio workers were asked to also leave the locality.

Later, the vaccinators filed a case with the Bahaderkhel police checkpost against Jalal.

The polio workers informed the police that the attacker had also harassed them in the last anti-polio campaign.

When contacted, a police official said the accused had been arrested and was being interrogated.

Meanwhile, Karak police claimed to have arrested an international drug smuggler and recovered contraband from him. He was identified as Akhter Mohammad, an Afghan national, currently living in Kurram Agency. About 4,000 gram hashish and 350 gram opium were recovered from his belongings.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2016