GILGIT, Aug 22: Fearing violence, the district administration has imposed Section 144 in Gilgit, ordering all markets to shut and banning traffic on roads.

“We have imposed Section 144 for the safety of people and their properties as there was severe risk of violence,” Deputy Commissioner, Gilgit, Tariq Arqam told Dawn.

He said that in reaction to Naran bus attack some incidents of violence had occurred in Gilgit the other day in which two people were shot dead and others injured on sectarian grounds. However, he said that the situation was now under control.

Mr Arqam said that the government had credible reports of tit for tat killings by some groups and as such the imposition of Section 144 had become imperative. He said that the administration had banned plying of motorcycles and all traders had been asked to shut down their business.

The deputy commissioner told Dawn that gathering of more than four people was banned and the law-enforcement agencies had been patrolling the city roads to maintain law and order.

He said that FIRs had been lodged in respective police stations against unidentified miscreants and efforts were being made to arrest them.

“The forces have arrested about 12 suspects during raids conducted overnight,” he said, adding that the law-enforcement and intelligence agencies would determine for how long the Section 144 would remain in force.

Menawhile, two people, including a Frontier Constabulary official, were shot dead by unidentified miscreants in Gilgit city on Tuesday.

“Two people were killed while two sustained bullet injuries,” deputy commissioner Tariq Arqam said.

The FC man was hit just opposite to deputy commissioner office where he was posted on security duty. He was identified as constable Manzoor Alam. Another incident took place near police check post, Skarwar, where one Abdul Halim was killed and Murad Khan injured.

SEVEN DIE IN ACCIDENT: Seven people died and nine suffered serious injuries when a vehicle fell into a deep ravine in upper Hunza here on Wednesday.

Assistant commissioner, Hunza, Amir Khan told this correspondent that a van carrying 18 passengers was coming to Gulmit from Moorkhoon when the accident took place. Police said that the van fell into ravine while negotiating a sharp turn.

Police identified the deceased as numberdar Nasiruddin,  food department deputy director Aqil Shah, Bakhtullah, Irfan Karim and Shahuddin, all residents of Gulmit, the tehsil headquarters of Gojal Valley. The name of two deceased could not be ascertained.

The injured were being taken to Aliabad, Hunza, for treatment, as the tehsil hospital, Gulmit, lacked proper facilities.

The administration took ambulances to Attaabad Lake because the injured were being brought in boats from Gulmit.