ISLAMABAD, July 30: Police have registered an FIR against more than 430 villagers, including women, of Sri Saral village located at Sector D-12 on charges of killing their own men, abducting the policemen, inciting violence and abetting terrorism.

According to the police, a manhunt has been launched against the villagers, specially against those identified in the report.

The FIR of Monday’s violent clash between the police and locals, that left two villagers dead and more than 60 injured, was registered with the Golra police on the complaint of SHO Mohammad Ashraf Shah.

The SHO, in his statement, said he, along with SPs of headquarters and saddar circle, assistant deputy commissioner Joudat Ayaz, AC Asadul Faiz, the magistrate, Saddar Circle, Mohammad Ajmal, Chaudhry Mohammad Ali from the CDA and other authority staff, were present in Sector D-12 on Monday for the start of development work. When the levelling of land was about to start, Mohammad Azam, Zulfiqar, Ashraf, Ilahi Dad, Haji Aurongzaib, Mohammad Akram, Mohammad Tariq, Mohammad Akram, Mohammad Hanif, Allah Baksh, Mohammad Mehboob, Karam Deen, Mohammad Ramzan, Mohammad Ishfaq, Mohammad Riaz, Hukam Dad, Mohammad Anwar and Mehfooz Bagum, flanked by 400 women and men, came out of their houses.

The SHO said the villagers were shouting slogans and carrying weapons like 7mm rifles, kalashnikovs, 12 bore pistols and batons. They took the police personnel at gunpoint and stopped the CDA staff from working. They also set a motorcycle on fire, he said.

He alleged that the people started pelting stones at the policemen, and snatched a wireless set and a gun from a constable. They also abducted two policemen and opened fire. Later, the clash started between the police and villagers, during which a large number of policemen were injured, he added.

The police reinforcement was called and hostages were rescued. On seeing the police, the attackers disappeared from the scene.

The FIR said: “While the police were chasing the fleeing villagers, Mohammad Latif and Haq Nawaz were found killed. Police have no knowledge who shot them dead, because the firing was taking place from three sides.”

None of the accused identified in the FIR has been arrested so far. However, the fate of about 25 people — mostly the passers-by and guests — who had been detained by the police, was not known.

In response to the villagers’ action, the police, ignoring human rights, excessively used teargas shells and also opened fire on the villagers, the witnesses said. The women were beaten, dragged and crammed into police trucks, while journalists were prevented from covering the incident, they added.

Some police experts said the tragedy could have been averted, if the top district and police management had handled the matter properly.

A Reporter Adds: A judicial magistrate on Tuesday sent 50 villagers to Adiala Jail on a 14-day judicial remand for putting up resistance against the police and “interfering in official affairs”.

These villagers had a clash with the police and the CDA personnel who were undertaking development work at Sector D-12 on Monday.

The police had arrested some 70 people, including 20 women, of Siri Saral and Pind Sangrial villages. However, the women were released on the directives of the high government functionaries.

All the injured people, excluding two policemen and four villagers, were discharged from hospital after treatment on Tuesday.

Our Reporter Adds: Bodies of the two victims of the “shootout” between the police and villagers were handed over to the relatives around 2pm.

Haq Nawaz’s body was received by his son-in-law, while that of Mohammad Latif was claimed by his cousin, Malik Sultan Khan.

The victims were buried at about 6:30pm near the site where the foundation stone of the new sector was laid by Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider on July 17.

No official of Islamabad administration, police and Capital Development Authority (CDA) was present on the occasion. However, a huge contingent of police was present half-a-kilometre from the place where the funeral prayers were offered. The funeral prayers were attended by a large number of people including local politicians.

The prominent political leaders who attended the burial included former PML(N) MNA Syed Zafar Ali Shah; PPP leaders Haji Nawaz Khokhar, Babar Awan advocate and Babar Minhas; and Mian Aslam of Jamaat-i-Islami.

Moving scenes were witnessed, when the bodies arrived at Sri Saral.

Meanwhile, announcements were made through mosque loudspeakers at Siri Saral late Tuesday evening, asking all the villagers to approach the district and sessions judge in a body on Wednesday morning to seek justice.

Following this latest development, an emergency meeting of the top officials of the district administration and police was held to devise strategy to handle the new situation.