Gunned down? Swabi residents protest death of two young motorcyclists

The two boys were allegedly stopped at Sherabad check-post

SWABI: After two, young motorbike riders were allegedly gunned down in the district for failing to stop at a security check-post late on Monday, residents of the Lahor area of Swabi staged a protest on Tuesday.

A witness, who did not wish to be named, told The Express Tribune over the telephone that two young boys — Junaid and Mehrab — had been allegedly shot at the Sherabad check-post when they disregarded directions to stop.

As a result of shots allegedly fired from the check-post, Junaid, who was driving the motorbike at high speed, lost control and crashed the two-wheeler.

Junaid died at the spot while Mehrab was critically injured, the witness said.

Mehrab was shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar for treatment late on Monday. He succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday.

Lahor residents blocked the Nowshera-Swabi Road to protest against what they termed were police excesses and demand that the officers responsible be booked for first-degree murder.

On the assurances of the district police officer and arrest of the police personnel manning the check-post, the protestors finally dispersed.

Later, funeral prayers for the deceased were offered at their native village of Bhikh in Lahor.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2018.