WANA: A local tribesman was shot dead by militants belonging to the Mulla Nazir group of the Taliban reportedly after he refused to pay extortion money in South Waziristan on Thursday.

According to sources, Taliban ‘commander’ Riaz and his militants held 25-year-old Abdullah at gunpoint near his house in Spin area, some 16 kilometres east of the agency’s headquarters Wana, and demanded payment of bhatta from him.

On refusal and a heated argument with Taliban commander, Abdullah was shot dead and the militants escaped.

Soon after the incident, the local people gathered and started a protest demonstration. They demanded officers of 60 Baloch Regiment arrest killers and award them exemplary punishment.

Keeping in view of the public outrage against the incident, the military personnel immediately came into action and arrested the accused Taliban commander.

They took the suspect to an unknown location for interrogation.

Later, Abdullah was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard amid moving scenes.

A large number of local tribesmen attended his funeral prayers and burial rituals.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2018