SARGODHA: Pervaiz announces compensation - Utra village killings

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SARGODHA, May 19: Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has announced Rs100,000 compensation for each deceased and Rs50,000 for each injured, besides free medical treatment of those injured in Utra village incident.

This was given out by chief minister's special advisor Rana Ejaz Ahmed while talking to the bereaved family and mourners of the Muslim Sheikh tribe on Wednesday morning.

He also directed DPO Rai Altaf Husain to arrest the remaining accused particularly the main accused, Malik Chiragh Utra and his son Aziz, within three days. The advisor also directed the DPO to submit a complete challan before the Anti-Terrorism Court judge, Sargodha, within a stipulated period of 15 days. He also constituted a five-member free legal aid cell which would supervise the investigation process and trial.

He was accompanied by Khushab District Nazim Malik Ehsanullah Tiwana, DCO Sheikh Zafar Iqbal, human rights' activists, including Haji Muhammad Aslam Katchela, ex-MNA Hafiz Liaquat, Khushab District Naib Nazim Malik Shakir Bashir Awan and Sargodha District Naib Nazim Chaudhry Hamid Saleem Warraich.

Mixed sentiments of revenge and sorrow among hundreds of mourners were observed on the occasion of soyem of the deceased at Utra village. Over 300 women of the Muslin Shaikh tribe were wailing and beating their chests and were instigating their men for revenge. A similar number of men took oath on the Holy Quran that they would not compromise.

Complainant Maula Bakhsh and brother of deceased Muhammad Yousaf told Dawn that he would not allow any body to politicize the murder of his family. He said the brutal incident could have been averted if the police had taken a timely action on Sunday evening when the assailants had gathered at their outhouse.

He said that Sikandar Hayat, Aziz, Khuda Baksh and Nasrullah were kidnapped by assailants. They were about to burn alive by the captives when police rescued them. The complainant also showed a burnt room and other household articles, including a copy of Holy Quran, which were set ablaze by the assailants.

Some medicines, he said, were being provided by the hospital while other expenditures were being borne by themselves.

He and other family members apprehended another attack from the Utra family, as according to them, the accused party had threatened to burn their entire tribe alive if they did not surrender to pursuing their case. He also alleged that parliamentarians of the area were also supporting the accused.

Meanwhile, the DPO claimed that the police had arrested 15 nominated accused out of 20. He said police parties were conducting raids for the arrest of the remaining accused.

He said that a police post had been set up at Utra village to meet any eventuality and provide protection to victims' family. This correspondent also visited the houses of the accused party which were closed while their cattle tethered were unattended.

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