At least 16 people including six policemen sustained injuries after a clash between police and flood-affected persons during a protest here on Saturday. The people were protesting against non-delivery of Watan and ration cards and “overcharging” in electricity bills.
Police used tear gas to disperse protestors. At this point protesters began pelting stones at the police, who resorted to baton charging the protesters, injuring 10 of them. Thirteen protesters including a former councillor were detained after the clash and cases were registered against them, police said.
According to local sources, the protesters blocked the Nowshera-Mardan Road, disrupting all kinds of traffic. The angry protesters also attacked the office of Wapda Nowshera’s Executive Engineer and shattered the building’s windows.
Some of the injured policemen were identified as DSP Akhtar Ali Khan, ASI Sartaj and Ayaz.
The arrested people include former Nazim Pir Zulfiqar Baacha, Ali Rehman, Naeem Abbas, Akhtiar Wali, Noor Habib, Sardar, Dilawar, Bakht Rehman, Wali Akbar and Iqbal. They were booked under section 553, 324, 148, 149, 188, 341, 13-AO, 120-B, 16 MPO, 427 of Pakistan Penal Code and the Loudspeaker Act.
The injured received treatment at a local hospital and were later discharged.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2011.
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