GILGIT, Oct 25: Unidentified assailants on Thursday shot dead a police constable in broad daylight at Jammat Khana bazaar here, said police.

An official at the city police station, Ashiq Hussain, told Dawn that constable Mohammad Hassan was going to market in plainclothes for Eid shopping when he was attacked by unknown people. He died on the spot.

His body was taken to DHQ Hospital Gilgit where doctors carried out postmortem and handed it over to legal heirs.

He said according to preliminary investigations it was a targeted killing, adding: “We have taken into custody the mobile phone of the victim and further investigation is underway.”

The incident sparked panic in the area with people rushing to safe places.

HIGH PRICES: High prices of sacrificial animals are keeping the buyers away in Gilgit. Both traders and residents are unhappy over the situation.

“Thinking of sacrifice this year is like crying for moon as the market prices are too high and I am unable to buy any animal,” said Khalid Hussain, a government employee.

The traders who complained of low transaction since they bought animals to the region, saying due to heavy transportation cost the prices of animals had gone beyond the reach of people.

“Whatever we are charging is not more than what we deserve and we have minimum margin because the animals cost us heavily,” said Jan Alam, an animal trader.—Correspondent