Nabbed: Alleged killers of customs officials arrested

Gang leader taken into custody, search for other suspects under way.

KOHAT: Kohat police claim to have busted a gang allegedly involved in Tuesday night’s deadly attack on customs officials.

Four customs officials including an inspector were killed when their picket was attacked on Kohat-Hangu Road. The assailants managed to flee from the scene and took two official weapons of the slain men with them.

A team comprising City DSP, City SHO and Saddar SHO was consequently formed by the Kohat DPO to probe the case. The team used cellular forensics and other forms of intelligence gathering to trace the suspects.

Investigation revealed four assailants were involved in the attack. Before targeting the officials, the assailants snatched a repeater and two Kalashnikovs from the guards of a nearby CNG pump.

The investigation team was able to narrow down a few suspects and the alleged gang leader, Wajid, was arrested on Thursday night. He confessed to the attack and to looting the CNG pump, police claimed.

In another raid on Friday, Wajid’s accomplice Shafiq was arrested. Police said they have managed to establish the identities of the remaining accomplices and the special team will ensure their arrest at the earliest.

Based on information given by the arrested gang leader, Kohat police also recovered six Kalashnikovs, two repeaters, a pistol and two hand grenades. The weapons included the snatched firearms of the customs officials.

Lauding the performance of Kohat police, IGP Nasir Khan Durrani and Kohat DIG Ishtiaq Khan Marwat announced commendation certificates and cash rewards for the investigation team. Speaking on the occasion, Kohat DPO Muhammad Sohaib Ashraf said the police was determined to ensure a society free of fear, crime and injustice.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2015.