SWABI, Feb 3: The families of those killed in Topi shootout during a protest demonstration against loadshedding in August 2010 will be compensated to settle the issue by peaceful means and a meeting has been called on Friday (today) to announce the decision, locals told Dawn here on Thursday.

Three young people belonging to Kotha village were killed and several others injured when police opened fire on peaceful protesters at Safdar Shaheed Chowk.

“Local politicians, the district administration officials and Kotha jirga have reached a negotiated settlement of the issue,” said the sources.

Since the incident last year three bodies, including Kotha jirga, a committee of politicians and the administration officials, have been striving for an amicable settlement of the incident.

They said that the judicial inquiry report, which came two months back, failed to satisfy the groups. The sources said that five FIRs, including two by the government, one each by Wapda, Hazir Zaman – the owner of CNG station – and the families of the victims, were registered. The latter had nominated DSP Swabi and SHO Zaida police in the FIR.

The sources said that everything had been settled, but the issue of Hazir Zaman was left as he was demanding compensation for his losses of the filing station, damaged by the protesters. However, an official claimed that Mr Zaman would also withdraw the FIR.

The sources said that the Wapda Topi sub-division office was set on fire and about 30 people were mentioned in the FIR. However, the sources said that all FIRs would be tactfully handled by police officials and no one would be arrested.

When contacted, a prominent member of the committee of politicians said that the required amount had been raised to compensate the bereaved families. “We have finalised everything to settle the issue, but I can't disclose the details,” he said.

Former MNA Rehmanullah said that they had succeeded to reach a patch up and every member of the Kotha jirga, politicians and district administration deserved credit for this.