SKARDU, Feb 4: A court has remanded 34 persons into judicial custody after a probe for their alleged involvement in the Jan 13 violence. Police accused them of carrying out arson attacks in retaliation for the killing of Agha Ziauddin.

The court had freed 13 others because of insufficient proof, a police official told local reporters here on Friday. The superintendent of police, Skardu, said the police had arrested 62 persons for arson attacks during a protest demonstration against the assassination of the Shia leader on Jan 13.

The police had detained them on the report of the intelligence agencies. They were arresting more people in this regard, he said. The government would also take a stern action against police officers and persons showing apathy during the incidents.

Answering a query, the SP said the police were investigating the killing of a young man during curfew. Mohammad Kazim fell victim to the firing a security personal on Jan 14, 2004, at Agha Hadi Chowk.

CONDEMNATION: Various political and social organizations have condemned the killing of Agha Ziauddin. The district council, municipal council, the Mashal-i-Rah (a women's social welafre organization) and various political and social workers demand an action against the culprits involved in the murder.

They, in separate resolutions, have demanded withdrawal of charges fixed under the terrorist act on the accused people, end to arrests of innocent people. The members and office-bearers of the Mashal-i-Rah, at a meeting here, criticized police for torturing the small boys in the custody.

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