MALAKAND: Firing on a checkpost in Musa Maina locality here left two Malakand Levies personnel dead and another injured on Thursday night. The incident sparked a protest with residents blocking the main Dargai-Mardan Road for traffic on Friday.

Sources and locals said a Malakand Levies man, identified as Saddam Hussain, and his brother, Ziaullah of Gudar Kallay, Kopper area, allegedly opened fire on personnel manning the Musa Maina checkpost, killing Havaldar Fazal Karim and sepoy Riaz Ahmed, and injuring sepoy Alamzeb. They managed to escape after committing the crime.

The injured man got registered FIR with the Dargai police station against Saddam and his brother, Ziaullah.

Fazal Rehman, in-charge of neighbouring Wazirabad Levies post, reported that on Thursday night when he along with other personnel reached the Musa Maina checkpost during routine patrol, he found Havaldar Fazal and sepoy Riaz lying in a pool of blood and Alamzeb in injured condition.

He said they shifted the bodies and the injured to a hospital. He said injured Alamzeb told them that they were performing duty at the checkpost when Saddam and his brother, Ziaullah came on a motorcycle armed with Kalashnikovs and started shooting at them on Thursday night. As a result, he said Fazal Karim and soldier, Riaz died on the spot, while he himself suffered injuries.

He said it looked the accused might have fired at them on the instigation of unknown terrorists.

The Malakand Levies registered a case against the accused under sections 302/324/109/34 of PPC and 7-ATA and started investigation.

The deceased were taken to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Dargai. Later, their bodies were handed over to the heirs for burial.

Malakand deputy commissioner Hamidur Rehman, who is also the Commandant of Malakand Levies, participated in the funeral prayers.

The personnel were later laid to rest in their ancestral graveyard in Herishah area of Dargai.

A large number of local people and political leaders participated in their funeral prayers.

DC Rehman said the Malakand Levies had arrested one of the accused, Ziaullah, while raids were being conducted to arrest the other. He said the motive behind the killing was not yet known, adding an investigation was underway to know the reason behind the double murder.

Meanwhile, the relatives, local residents and workers of various political parties blocked the Dargai-Mardan Road for two hours. The protesters demanded immediate arrest of the remaining accused and intensifying the night-time patrol to ensure protection to the lives and properties of people.

Later, on the assurance by MPA Pir Musawwar Shah and the deputy commissioner, the protesters dispersed peacefully.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2024