In the crosshairs: Two policemen shot dead in city

PESHAWAR:

Two policemen were shot dead by unidentified motorcyclists in Rashid Garhi of the Yakatoot police jurisdiction Friday morning in what appeared to be a targeted attack.

Elite Force Constable Shahzeb and Ihsanullah, a special police officer (SPO) or contract police constable, were on their bike when three armed men on another motorbike opened fire on them.

“Shahzeb is a resident of Garhi Qamardin area of Peshawar and he was in Rashid Garhi to take his friend Ihrasullah with him on the bike. The assailants managed to flee after the murder,” an official of Yakatoot police station told The Express Tribune. “The victims were rushed to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) but were dead before arrival,” he added.

Two weeks ago, a police rider squad was attacked in Garhi Qamardin and one of the personnel was killed and another seriously wounded. After the attack, police stations were directed to abandon all patrols involving rider squads as they could become easy targets.

The funeral prayers of Shahzeb and Ihsanullah were offered at Malik Saad Shaheed Lines and attended by high-ranking police officials.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd,  2016.