PESHAWAR: A special police officer (SPO) was martyred and a proclaimed offender was killed during a raid in Urmur village on the outskirts of the provincial capital early on Tuesday, the police said.

Police identified the SPO as Samiullah, and the proclaimed offender as Irfan. They said the accused was trying to flee the police during the raid when the SPO grabbed him. Upon this, the accused opened fire, martyring the police official. The proclaimed offender was also shot dead by other policemen.

His funeral prayers were offered at the Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines.

Meanwhile, Haider Ali, a brother-in-law of the deceased SPO, told Dawn that the policeman had been without salary for past four months. He said he had joined the police after retiring from the army.

On the other hand, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan ordered the police chief to furnish a report regarding non-payment of salary to the deceased cop. He also ordered an inquiry into reports regarding the delay in funeral prayers of the official and keeping his family waiting for long.

However, city police chief Abbas Ahsan said the martyred constable was an ex-serviceman and his regularisation case was pending with the finance department. He said the funeral prayers were offered following the autopsy.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2022