MANSEHRA: A police sub-inspector was martyred and another sustained serious injuries when a motorist opened indiscriminate fire at them after he was ticketed on the Hazara Motorway near Badra Chowk here on Friday.

“This is not an act of terrorism as a motorist who was fined by the wardens over traffic rules’ violation got infuriated and opened fire, leaving a sub-inspector dead and a constable seriously injured,” district police officer Shafiullah Gandapur told reporters.

He said traffic wardens led by sub-inspector Amir Khan intercepted a car on way to Mansehra from Peshawar over rash driving at the motorway’s Abbottabad-Mansehra section and handed its driver with a ticket, which infuriated him and he opened indiscriminate fire at the cops after a brawl.

Sub-inspector Amir Khan and warden, Mohammad Naveed received critical injuries, and were rushed to the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital by their colleagues, where doctors pronounced Amir dead.

According to the police, the suspect managed to flee the scene in his car after the firing. The police cordoned off the crime scene and collected the bullet shells and other evidence. The body was handed over to family after doctors completed the medico-legal formalities at the hospital.

“We have deployed policemen at different points to arrest the suspect,” Mr Gandapur said.

He said that according to preliminary investigation, the suspect was identified with the name of Mohammad Khalid, a resident of Karkala area of Mansehra.

The DPO said that sub-inspector Amir hailed from Oghi area of the district, and was appointed in Torghar police.

The police started investigation after lodging an FIR of the incident.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2024