Encounter: 2 killed in shootout with police

Deceased’s family claims innocence.

PESHAWAR: Two people were killed in an encounter with the Badhaber police on Kohat Road Tuesday afternoon.

The men, who were armed with automatic rifles and hand grenades, opened fire at police officials when the latter tried to stop their car at Zangali check post on Kohat Road for a search.

The vehicle was coming from Darra Adam Khel and the driver increased its speed in an attempt to evade the security stop. However, policemen blocked the road near the police station, resulting in a firefight with the men. The incident, which took place in a crowded market place, left both men in the car seriously injured. Two women and a child were also hurt.

The injured were rushed to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH). One of the men died en route, while the other succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

An official of Badhaber police station said both were Pakistanis and in their mid thirties. “They were armed with an automatic rifle, 9mm pistols and two hand grenades. We think they could be kidnappers as both were well-dressed and driving a brand new XLI car,” said the official.

The identities of both men were later established and they were handed over to the families. The family of one deceased, Shahryar Khan, a resident of Karim Pura, staged a protest against his killing in front of Governor House. The family claimed Khan was a second-year student at Government Degree College Darra Adam Khel. They said he was killed in cold blood, adding the story of his encounter with the police was also completely fabricated. The family demanded those responsible be arrested. The other deceased has been identified as Saqib, a resident of Mohalla Janghi, Qisakhwani Bazaar.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2013.