Tensions high: Two killed in Gilgit since Monday

Police open fire at protest of KIU students, injuring four people.

GILGIT: At least two people were killed in Gilgit in separate incidents since Monday night, giving rise to fear and panic in the town.

Abdul Wakeel, a resident of Diamer Valley, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Jutial on Monday afternoon. In another incident in the same area, Tauqir Abbas was killed by unidentified men who managed to flee the crime scene.

A senior police official said cases have been registered regarding the two murders.

Student protest

Meanwhile, at least four people, including two students, were injured when police opened fire at a rally to clear a road on Tuesday.

The incident occurred at 10am when students of Karakoram International University refused to comply with police orders to clear a major road which leads to the Chief Court, Superintendent Police (SP) office and other sensitive places. The students had been protesting against the university administration over an issue of examinations.

The injured were shifted to Government City Hospital for treatment.

“The firing was unprovoked and condemnable as the protest was against the university not the police,” claimed one demonstrator.

In response to the police shooting, hundreds of students and residents held a sit-in outside the SP’s office, accusing him of violence. They demanded action against the police officials involved.

Locals claimed police opened fire even though they had orders not to from magistrate Hamza Saleem. “The magistrate told the police to stop shooting but to no avail,” said Mohammad Issa, a resident.

Later, the protesters also blocked roads near Twin Bridge and Baseen.

DIG police Ali Sher termed the incident unfortunate, saying it happened as the police was trying to clear a road of protesters. Lawbreakers need to be dealt with strictly, added Sher. The demonstrations, however, continued till this report was filed.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18^th, 2013.