In case of the disputed encounter of four people of Shoro community in Jamshoro district, 15 police officers were booked for murder.
The four men were killed on Super Highway on Sunday while allegedly fleeing after a foiled robbery from a truck carrying chickpea bags. The incident happened 12 to 15 kilometres off Hyderabad toll plaza, however, personnel of the Kotri police station were embroiled in the situation.
DSP Abdul Ghafoor Lakho, DSP Manzoor Panhwar, Jamshoro SHO Saeed Channa and ASI Muhammad Ali Soomro were among those implicated for murder. The complainant, Munir Shoro, is among the five people whom the police claimed fled the scene.
In the FIR, Munir said that they were returning after selling mangoes in Karachi’s vegetable market when they were stopped at police post number 13 on the highway. “The DSP grabbed Rs35,000 from Rajab, one of the four slain persons but he resisted,” said Shoro.
According to him, the police shot at them when they did not yield after a heated argument. “Those of us who survived fled to the nearby mountains for safety.”
The Shoros hailed from Dabu Shoro village in Kotri’s Site area. The elected representatives of the town have reportedly thrown their weight behind the Shoro community. While the MPA, Dr Sikandar Shoro, was himself present when the negotiations took place, which led to the registration of the FIR. MNA Abdul Ghani Talpur has also sought a judicial inquiry. Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah also ordered a judicial investigation.
Meanwhile, Kotri was paralysed on Monday to protest against the enraged Shoros who attacked the traders on Sunday and forced them to close their shops and businesses. The strike was called by traders associations and the local leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2012.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ