ISLAMABAD: A mob of over three dozen people on Thursday night attacked Shalimar police station with an aim to free their companions arrested in connection with an attack on an international food chain outlet.

A policeman and two attackers were injured during the attack.

The police said at 10:40pm around 40 people gathered outside the police station and chanted provocative slogans.

Within few minutes the charged mob, armed with batons, iron rods, and knuckle punch entered the police station. They told the police that they had come to free their detained companions.

A policeman made an attempt to intercept them, but the mob snatched his sub-machine gun (SMG) and beat him and tore his uniform.

The staff of the police station switched off power supply of the building, and sought reinforcement on wireless to deal with the situation.

The attackers also damaged the SHO office, and roamed about the police station. When the staff tried to stop them they put up resistance which ensued a minor clash during which two attackers also sustained injuries.

Later, when a police contingent and senior officers reached the police station, the attackers escaped from the scene. However, the police arrested two injured attackers.

During preliminary investigation the arrested attackers told the police that they attacked the police station to set free their companions arrested by the police in connection with an attack on food chain outlet on Tuesday.

On April 15, a group of over two dozen people armed with batons and iron rods gathered outside the outlet located in E-11 and staged a protest and blocked the road. The attackers chanted provocative slogans and threatened to set the outlet on fire.

They manhandled guards of the outlet and snatched their weapons.

Some of them also entered the outlet and threatened the customers and the staff. Besides, they asked the customers to vacate the outlet.

After receiving the information about the attack police reached the spot. But they attacked them and beat one of the policemen black and blue and tore his uniform.

However, police arrested 15 attackers and registered a case at Shalimar police station under sections 395, 353, 186, 341, 148, 149, 506-ii of PPC and section 24 of Prevention of Electronic Crimes.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2025