Crime: One killed, other injured in firing

GILGIT: Tension gripped Gilgit as one person was killed and a police constable was injured after unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on them late Sunday, police and other sources revealed. The incident occurred on hospital road at around 10:00pm, as the two victims, who were also brothers, were going to District Headquarter (DHQ) Hospital, sources said, adding that Mohammad Alam succumbed to his injuries at DHQ Hospital, while the condition of his brother, Constable Noor Alam, was listed as stable. The brothers reportedly belonged to Astore valley. The incident triggered panic in the city, after a member of a religious party narrowly escaped an ambush earlier. Despite various attempts, police official were unwilling to reveal if any arrests had been made or if the killing was sectarian motivated. Following the killing, police and other law enforcement agencies increased patrolling in the city.



Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2011.