Ashura violence: More suspects arrested

RAWALPINDI:

As part of a swoop on suspected rioters, who instigated violence on Ashura in Rawalpindi, the police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested nine more persons in a series of raids.

According to the police, a total of 47 persons have been taken into custody for investigation for their alleged involvement in the violence, and nine of them have so far confessed to playing a part. The identity of the nine arrested suspects could not be ascertained either from police or any others sources.

The police also arrested three persons late on Tuesday night from Sadiqabad with the help of CCTV and media footages. They were identified as Munir and his two sons Nayyar and Tayyab.

The police also conducted raids at residences of other suspected rioters, however, the police found most of the houses locked.

Rawalpindi SSP Operation Sikander Hayat has been made officer on special duty (OSD) and asked to report to the Punjab Police headquarters as part of a high-level shuffle in the police.

Meanwhile An official of a security agency was arrested by the police for allegedly taking out a procession and firing on a group in Tench Bhatta on Tuesday, the police said. The suspect, identified as Yasir Ali from Dhoke Syedan, is an official of the Punjab Regiment and is currently deployed in Karachi Cantt.

He was on vacations in Rawalpindi and was attending the procession when police took him into custody on suspicion and recovered a pistol with 10 bullets from him, a senior police official said, adding that he was arrested for firing on the rival group.

Meanwhile, talking to The Express Tribune, Racecourse Police Station House Officer Musaddaq Hussain said a total of 18 people from both groups have been nominated for violation of government orders and creating unrest by taking out a procession and exchanging fire.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2013.