Violence on campus: Varsity closed after firing incident injures students

Security guard who allegedly shot students in police custody.

MANSEHRA:

The administration of Hazara University (HU) has closed down the varsity after a firing incident left four students injured on Tuesday. One of the accused in the scuffle was arrested on Wednesday.

According to university officials, a security guard had a scuffle with a non-HU student and then opened fire at him, injuring three other students. The injured were identified as Adil Shah, Ata Khan, Usman and Adnan.

Later, angry students blocked the road for over two hours, forcing the police to disperse them by force with baton charge and aerial firing. A case was registered at the Shinkiari police station against the security guard, identified as Aksar Shah.

Meanwhile, the administration claimed the incident occurred outside the university’s Meena Bazaar when an outsider attempted to enter the bazaar with a fake ticket, read a statement issued from the office of HU’s public relations officer.

According to the press release, the security guard overpowered the fleeing student and attempted to hand him over to the police. In the ensuing scuffle between the two, the official weapon of the security guard went off accidentally and two students standing nearby were hit in the legs.

The statement further read that the injured students were shifted to Ayub Medical Complex, Abbottabad for treatment and the HU administration would bear their treatment costs.

The security guard was suspended after the incident and legal action was launched against him.

A departmental enquiry was also ordered and HU will remain closed till Friday, with classes commencing from Monday.

The accused guard was arrested by the police on Wednesday and the police are investigating the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2014.