LARKANA: The murder of Samina Sindhu, a 25-year-old singer, while performing at a function in Kanga village, some 10 kilometres north-west of Larkana, late on Tuesday night, triggered a protest here on Wednesday.

The vocalist, said to be in her seventh month of pregnancy, was asked by some members of the audience to perform standing on the stage. Initially she resisted but when she stood up to perform, a bullet hit her in the back. She fell on the stage and was immediately taken to the Chandka Medical College Hospital, where she died.

The killer escaped the scene, but later Kanga police claimed to have arrested him. The suspect was identified as Tariq Ali Jatoi, police said.

The grieving party of musicians and relatives of the victim carried the body to the SP Chowk at midnight on Tuesday and held a protest demonstration there to seek justice.

They alleged that Kanga SHO Liaquat Ali Khajar not only manhandled the musicians but also put them into the lockup of the police station instead of registering an FIR against the culprits.

Again on Wednesday, the grief-stricken relatives, artists and their organisations carrying the body demonstrated outside Jinnahbagh before offering funeral prayers inside the park. They later demonstrated in front of the Larkana Press Club and criticised the SHO for insulting the musicians and demanded strict action against the killers. They also protested outside the office of the Saddar DSP and remained there till the registration of an FIR.

The Kanga police station on the compliant of Ashiq Ali Samo registered an FIR (2/2018) against Tariq Ali Jatoi and his two unidentified accomplices under Sections 302, 114, 34 and 338 B, police confirmed to Dawn.

The complainant said that his wife was asked to stand up and sing on the stage. Initially she declined the request, but later as soon as she stood up and began giving instructions to the musicians, a bullet rang in and struck her in the back. She collapsed on the stage. She was rushed to the Chandka Medical College Hospital, where she died. The body was taken to Ayub Colony, where she lived, and later to Jacobabad, her home district, where she was buried.

The musicians and leaders of different organisations of artists said they were deeply saddened by the murder. “We are the ambassadors of love. We are peaceful persons and it is height of cruelty to target us,” they said. Meanwhile, taking notice of the incident Larkana SSP Tanveer Ahmed Tunio suspended Kanga SHO Liaquat Ali Khajar and posted Hazoor Bakhsh Junejo as the new SHO of the police station.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2018