Caught in crossfire: Child killed, mother injured in shoot-out between rivals

Police say they were escorting three suspects to a jirga at the time.

NOWSHERA: An eight-year-old girl was killed and her mother injured in a shootout between two rival groups in Risalpur, Nowshera on Monday.

Risalpur police official Ghulam Sarwar said Ayaz, Asfandiyar and Nihadullah were arrested during a raid in Bara Bandha on Sunday night. The men had been accused of killing Mir Bahadur and Nazakat Ali in August 2012 and had since been on the run.

Sarwar said police were taking the accused to be handed over to elders of Bara Bandha jirga on Monday when the suspects’ adversaries – Liaqat Ali, Shah Zarin and Asif – opened fire at Ayaz and Asfandiyar. In the resultant shoot-out, passers-by Tania and her mother Firasat Bibi were injured, added Sarwar.

Both women were rushed to District Headquarters Hospital. Tania succumbed to her injuries on the way, while Firasat was referred to the Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar due to her critical condition.

Following the incident, residents of Bara Bandha along with local leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz blocked GT Road, claiming the women were shot by Risalpur police. They demanded the government to form an inquiry committee.

As a result, hundreds of passengers were stranded on the road for almost two hours. Later, Nowshera DPO Waqar Ahmad arrived at the site of the protest and assured demonstrators the police will conduct an inquiry into the matter. Following the assurance, protesters dispersed peacefully and the road was unblocked.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2013.