LAKKI MARWAT: A student of a religious seminary was killed and four others received injuries when police clashed with protesters in Darra Pezu town on Wednesday night.

The protesters belonging to Wanda Jogi and adjacent hamlets had closed Indus Highway at Bypass Chowk against denial of their dues by the management of a local cement factory regarding sand and earth taken from their land.

The closure of highway prompted police to rush to the venue of protest and convince protesters to open it.

Shaheed Haibat Ali Khan police station SHO Waseem Sajjad said that he was on patrolling duty in the area when he learnt about the closure of highway by around 50 people led by Abdul Rahim, Naseeruddin, Waheed Nawaz, Saifuddin, Ali Khan and Hazrat Ali.

He said that he negotiated with protesters and requested them to open the highway to traffic but to no avail. He said that the protesters pelted stones at police and opened firing on them.

Protesters block road to demand dues from cement factory

The SHO said that police also fired gunshots in the air in self-defence. He claimed five persons were injured in the firing by protesters. The injured were identified as Naseeruddin, Waheed Nawaz, Saifuddin and Ali Khan.

He said that the injured people were shifted to district headquarters hospital in Tajazai but Naseruddin could not survive.

The protesters, however, alleged that police fired at them to disperse them and open the highway, killing Naseeruddin and injuring four others.

Inamullah, a leader of the protesters, said that the deceased was a student of a local religious seminary. He said that Marwat tribesmen would not tolerate shedding blood of innocent citizens, demanding their rights from the cement factory.

The protesters placed the body of deceased on the highway outside the main gate of the cement factory and again closed the road to traffic.

On Thursday, elders and people from other localities also reached the town and joined the agitation.

Later, the protesters dispersed and opened the highway when elders including Maulana Asghar Ali, Hakeem Asghar Ali, Maulana Mohammad Ali held successful talks with officials including Deputy Commissioner Abdul Hadi and District Police Officer Mohammad Ashfaq.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2023