SWABI: People belonging to different villages of Chota Lahor tehsil staged a protest demonstration on Tuesday against the killing of two motorcyclists in police firing on Swabi-Jahangira road here on Monday night.

It is learnt that police had erected blockade in front of Sherabad police post near Tordher village late in the night to check both the private and public transport vehicles.

In the meantime, two motorcycle riders appeared from Jahangira side and the police party signaled them to stop but they ignored the signal and the police opened fire on them. As a result, Junaid Khan of Nabi village was killed on the spot and his colleague, Mehran Khan of Chota Lahor city, was seriously injured. The injured was taken to Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, in precarious condition, where he died.

The incident enraged the people of Nabi and surrounding villages who marched to Swabi-Jahangira road and blocked it for several hours.

The protesters were chanting slogans against the police and demanded that the killers should be arrested immediately.

They condemned the killing and blasted the police for targeting peaceful citizens. They said the police should provide security to the people instead of killing them.

They said deceased Junaid had left behind a child and young widow and Mehran two children and a widow.

District police officer Syed Khalid Hamdani did not attend the calls this correspondent made to know his version on the issue.

However, it was learnt that the DPO had suspended four police personnel, including the in-charge of Sherabad police station.

Sources said the suspended personnel had been arrested and lodged in the lockup.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2018

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