Targeted: VDC member, police guard killed in Swat

Some suspects held, attack panics locals

MINGORA: A village defence committee (VDC) member, along with a policeman, was killed in an ambush by unidentified men in Bara Banda area in Matta tehsil on Monday.

According to SHO Rahim Khan, assailants opened fire on VDC member Muhammad Khan and on two of his guards, Bakht Baidar and Bilal, early on Monday morning.

“Muhammad Khan died on the spot while both of his guards were injured,” Rahim Khan said, adding Baidar succumbed to his wounds at the hospital while Bilal was in critical condition.

According to Khan, soon after the attack, police started a search operation to arrest the culprits.

“The situation is now under control and police have jailed a few suspects,” he added. Further investigation into the matter is under way.

The head of a peace council in Swat, Syed Inamur Rehman, said the assassination of the VDC member sent a panic wave across the district.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2016.