LAKKI MARWAT, Aug 12: Residents of Mash Mastikhani village blocked Indus Highway on Sunday evening to protest against the killing of a villager allegedly by police.
The protesters placed the body of the victim on the highway and closed it for vehicular traffic near Kurrum bridge.
Area police, however, claimed that the villager was killed after he and his accomplice, Khan Sardar, a proclaimed offender, traded fire with a police party.
They said police raided a house in the village in the wee hours on Sunday after receiving information about the presence of a proclaimed absconder Khan Sardar there.
“Police were laying the siege around the house when PO Khan Sardar and his accomplice Gul Riat came out and started firing on law enforcers,” they maintained, saying in retaliatory firing Gul Riat was killed while Khan Sardar managed to escape.
Residents of the village said the deceased Gul Riat was innocent and was not wanted by police in any case. They demanded of the local authorities to register a case against station house officer of Dadiwala police station for killing an innocent villager in a fake encounter.
Local police officials rushed to the place and got opened the highway after assuring protesters that their demands would be met.
AUTO THIEVES ARRESTED: Police claim arresting two car snatchers and seizing a car and three pistols from them during an action on Manjiwala link road.
After receiving information, a police party reached the place and arrested both of them,” said an official on Sunday. He said the arrested car lifters were identified as Sanaullah of Harama Tala Lakki and Ameer Rashid of Hangu.
He said police seized the car from them and sent its documents to the relevant quarters for verification. “The arrested persons had come to the area with an intention of committing crime,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, chairing a meeting DPO Umar Riaz directed the SHOs and other subordinate officials to take all possible measures to stop festive/aerial firing on Chand Raat and during Eid days.
He directed SHOs to seek cooperation from elders, religious scholars, prayer leaders, social activists and traders to curb the menace.