OKARA, Nov 16: Six cyclists shot dead a constable late Friday night near Sohag Canal Road, Haveli Lakkha.

A Haveli police party comprising ASIs Aslam Pervaiz, Muhammad Zaman and constable Muhammad Akbar was patrolling in a private car (6922-LOF). The policemen were returning to Pul Ranjha from Sohag Canal when they spotted six bicyclists. On suspicion, the policemen signalled them to stop, but they opened fire on them. As a result, constable Muhammad Akbar died on the spot. Leaving their three bicycles behind, the killers vanished in nearby fields in the darkness.

A large number of policemen, including SSP Aslam Tareen, district Nazim Sajjad Haider, DCO Khalid Masood, and others offered the funeral prayers of the deceased constable in the district courts here on Saturday. Later, his body was taken to his native village 6/1/A-L, Renala Khurd, for burial.

BOOKED: Seven shopkeepers were booked on Saturday for selling eatables at exorbitant rates.

Those booked are Mansha, Asif, Nadeem, Syed Azam Ali Shah, Muhammad Yasin of 17/1-R, Matloob and Rafique of Satgrah.