DADU, Feb 25: A police constable, who went berserk, killed seven people with his official Kalashnikov and injured 11 others on the Station Road Bazaar, here on Sunday night.

The police constable, Noor M. Panhwar, after getting off from work went straight to his house at Wazirabad Mohalla. Soon he had a fight with his brother, M. Pariyal, over the distribution of 100 acres of land in his native village, Fatah Panhwar, Johi Taluka. He tried to kill his brother with his Kalashnikov but the latter fled immediately.

Noor started chasing him and opened indiscriminate fire on the Station Road Bazaar as a result of which five people were killed on the spot and six others were seriously injured.

Those killed were identified as Khan Bux (25), Ghulam Sarwar (26), Ramzan Mallah (25), Abdul Sattar (21), and Muno Hussain Sehto (35).

Mr Noor then returned to his house, locked the door and held the members of his family at gunpoint.

Soon a heavy contingent of police arrived there and surrounded his house. He again opened fire from the roof of his house as a result of which two more people were killed and five injured.

Those killed were identified as Wazir Zour (25), and Noor Hassan (30).

Among those injured was a twelve-year-old boy, Abid Hussain Janwari.

All the injured were taken to a hospital.

After two hours, a police party led by the DPO, Dadu, Mushtaq Ahmed Mehar, and the SP (investigation) Choudhry M. Sadiq cordoned off the entire area.

The DSP (headquarters) Dadu, Haji Sikandar Ali Mangi, asked Noor on the loudspeaker to surrender himself to the police and release all his family members. He refused and opened fire at the police but luckily no one was hit.

When Noor’s mother, Nadima Panhwar, asked him to surrender himself he immediately shot himself dead with the Kalashnikov.

His body was sent to the taluka hospital Khairpur Nathan Shah for an autopsy.

The DPO told this correspondent that Noor M. Panhwar had been appointed in the police department in 1994 by then Sindh chief minister Syed Abdullah Shah. He said that Mr Noor had been admitted to a mental hospital a year back.

He said that Mr Noor intended to kill his brother over a domestic dispute but the latter managed to escape.

Mr Noor’s mother, Ms Nadima, said that her son had been sent to a mental hospital for treatment after having been suspended. She said that she was shocked as to how her son had resumed his duty and had been even provided a weapon.

Meanwhile, a complete strike was observed in the town on Monday to protest against the killing of seven people. All the main bazaars and shopping centres including Shahi Bazaar, Station Road, Rai Bazaar, and Katchairy Road remained closed.

Numerous people including workers of various political parties and social organizations held a demonstration in front of the official residences of the DPO and DCO for two hours. They pelted stones on the police. Police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the crowd. At least six citizens and policemen were injured in the clash.

Police officials later showed Noor’s body to the protesters at a ground to cool them off.

COMPENSATION: The Sindh government has announced to compensate the families of those killed as well as injured by Noor.