Student shot dead by policeman in Quetta

The boy was carrying milk cartons for his shop.

QUETTA: A college student carrying cartons of milk was shot dead by the police here on Sunday, triggering protests across the city including the governor house and chief minister secretariat.

The provincial government ordered a judicial inquiry into the murder and has taken two police officers alleged to have opened fire on the student into custody, home secretary Naseebullah Bazai said.

Asghar Shah, a student of Government Musa College was allegedly shot dead by a policeman deputed at Meccangi Road.

Deputy Inspector General (operations) Qazi Wahid said the boy was in a rickshaw and was carrying some boxes when he was intercepted by the police. “The boy has a small shop, to where he was taken. But he tried to run away upon which the police opened fire on him.”

Wahid added that the milk cartons were of a US brand and the case was being investigated.

The boy’s relatives said he was carrying the milk for his shop and that even if he did try to run away the police should have caught him alive, as the boy was neither a terrorist nor was he carrying any weapons. Doctors said the boy was shot in the head, due to which he died on the spot.

Protests

The family of the boy and scores of activists of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) gathered at the hospital soon after the incident. A procession was taken out with the deceased’s body which marched towards the governor house and chief minister secretariat.

The protesters also forced shops to shut down in different parts of the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2012.