LOWER DIR: A team led by a sub-engineer of communication and works department visited here the other day a house set on fire by a mob in Ahmad Galai Talash to prepare a damage assessment report on the direction of anti-terrorism court.

The house owned by one Ikram Khan, an alleged killer of a youth, was set on fire by the enraged mob on April 13. The team will submit its report to the district police officer soon.

Wasim Sajjad, nephew of the accused Ikram, told this correspondent that the people of Talash had burnt down the house after the police arrested his uncle and took him away on April 13. He demanded of the government to take action against those who had burnt the house and its valuables.

The Talash police have registered cases against 250 known and unknown persons for setting house of the accused on fire and blocking the road and so far 13 of them had been arrested.

Talash SHO Ayub Khan said the accused was arrested in an injured condition and he was under treatment in police custody at a Peshawar hospital.

The Talash Dushkhel Qaumi Islahi Jirga on Wednesday threatened to stage street protests over cases against the people of Talash.

Talking to mediapersons at Talash, the jirga head Malik Taj Mohammad alleged that the police were harassing innocent citizens.

He said they had now decided to meet the provincial and regional officials for resolution of the issue.

Meanwhile, assistant commissioner Tahir Ali on Wednesday inspected the sasta bazaar in Timergara and checked essential items and their prices.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2021