TOBA TEK SINGH: Traffic on Faisalabad-Satiana Road was blocked for over two hours on Monday following the murder of two cousins, Afzaal (20) and Babar (25), at Adda of Satiana Bangla. Relatives of the victims placed their bodies on the road and set tyres on fire at the Gogera Branch Canal bridge in protest.

The protesters alleged that the main suspect, Attiqur Rehman, who is accused of shooting the cousins over an old rivalry, was initially arrested by Satiana police but later released. They claimed that Rehman and his accomplices attacked and killed the cousins after his release. The protesters demanded the immediate arrest of the killers and accountability for the police officials who released Rehman.

Faisalabad SSP Investigation Abdul Wahab met with the protesters and assured them that the suspects would be apprehended soon. He also announced the suspension of ASI Wilayat Ali, who had been responsible for Rehman’s release. Following these assurances, the protesters ended their demonstration.

Attiqur Rehman, a proclaimed offender in a murder case, had been staying in the village of the deceased cousins. When the victims informed the police about his criminal activities, Rehman was arrested but subsequently freed, leading to the fatal attack in retaliation. Both victims were county-level kabaddi players.

ACCIDENT: Two-year-old Adil was killed by a rickshaw in Faisalabad’s Allama Iqbal Colony on Monday. The child was playing outside his home when the rickshaw struck him, critically injuring him. He was rushed to Samanabad Government General Hospital but succumbed to his injuries.

Also, three motorcyclists were critically injured when a poultry-laden mini-truck hit their bike near Chak 424 GB on Tandlianwala-Satiana Road in Faisalabad. The injured, identified as Sikandar (32), his mother Sakina Bibi (65), and his aunt Allah Muafia (40), were taken to Tandlianwala THQ Hospital. The truck driver and his helper also sustained minor injuries.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2024