First target killing of 2021: Labourer gunned down in North Waziristan
A poor labourer was shot dead by unknown masked men in Haider Khel village of North Waziristan late Saturday evening, making him the first man to be mysteriously gunned down in a targeted attack this year.
Mursalin was killed outside his residence in his village located in Mir Ali subdivision. The masked gunmen managed to escape after committing the crime. The deceased was a daily wage earner. Locals blamed it as yet another targeted attack in the area.
While speaking to The Express Tribune, Youth of Waziristan Chairman Noor Islam Dawar said the poor man had nothing to do with terrorism and was barely making both ends meet but he was still not spared.
According to sources familiar with the incident, the poor man was killed around 8pm at night but the police did not reach the crime scene for at least a few hours.
Approximately, 143 people have been killed in North Waziristan last year, out of which 60 people were killed by masked gunmen including tribal elders as well as the locals.
Around 54 have also been injured last year due to personal feuds, targeted attacks and terrorism.
The victims of these targeted attacks included women, a CSS officer and others. Most of the targeted attacks took place in Mir Ali which also included two horrific incidents.
At least 26 police personnel lost their lives in one dozen attacks on security forces. The year 2020 as a whole was not a good one pertaining to law and order as peace remained an elusive chase and many local tribes clashed in Epi Madi Khel, Khadi Machi Khel, Edik Bora Khel, Hakim Khel, Aziz Khel and Mira Ali Shemari areas resulting in the loss of precious human lives due to the armed conflicts.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2021.