Avalanche kills four

MUZAFFARABAD, Feb 23: Four persons were killed and another 10 wounded in a remote Neelum valley village after their abodes were struck by an avalanche early Thursday morning, police said.

The incident occurred in Sonaar village in the upper belt of Neelum valley, more than 170 kilometres northeast of here at about 6am, police official Javed Yousuf confirmed to Dawn.

“The avalanche struck some six houses in the snowbound village, trapping their 14 inmates underneath,” he said.

Of them, 4 perished while the rest were pulled alive with injuries and were given treatment at a local army-run health facility, he added.

The deceased were identified as Peer Wali and his wife Bibi Hoor and Bakht Noor and her young daughter Ambreen. — Staff Correspondent

Schoolboy guns mother down

TAXILA, Feb 23: A ninth grade student shot dead his mother over petty dispute in Gulshan Colony here on Thursday.

Police sources said Ashar Khan, a student of class nine at a local school got infuriated after exchange of hot words with his mother, took out his father’s 30-bore pistol, fired a bullet at her and killed her on the spot. He later fled away from the scene.

Dead body was handed over for burial to the family after conducting autopsy at tehsil headquarters hospital Taxila. Wah Cantt police have registered a case against the accused and started investigation. — Correspondent

3 die in separate incidents

ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: Three persons were killed in separate incidents in the capital on Thursday.

Police said elders of Alipur were holding a Jirga to settle a dispute between Mohammad Arshad and his brother Mohammad Sajid when the siblings ran into a scuffle and pulled out their weapons.

When one of the participants, Mohammad Fayaz, tried to calm them down, they opened fire. As a result, he received bullet injuries and later died in a hospital.

Two students, Zubair Ishaq, 18, and Ahsan Saeed, 20,  were traveling on a motorcycle when a car hit them. As the two fell on the road, a dumper coming from behind ran over them. Ishaq later died in a hospital while the condition of Saeed was critical.

Two brothers travelling on a motorcycle were hit by a wagon at Nilor. They were shifted to hospital where one of them identified as Hafiz Mohammad Bakhtawar was pronounced dead. The other injured was stated to be in critical condition.— Staff Reporter

Accident claims life

ATTOCK, Feb 23:  A man was killed on road in Fatehjang, while another was abducted in Hazro.

Police said on Thursday that 18-year old Mubashir Shehzad, a resident of Fatehjang sustained serious injuries when he was hit by a speeding pick-up Wednesday evening. He was rushed to a local hospital but he succumbed to the critical injuries.

Meanwhile Mohammad Ejaz, a resident of Khakwani village reported to Hazro police station that his son Faisal Khan went to meet a village fellow Rawaiz Khan soon after receiving his phone call on Wednesday.  But he did not return till late at night while his mobile phone was not responding. The complainant feared that his son was allegedly kidnapped by the fellow as a scuffle had earlier occurred between the two.

Hazro police have registered a kidnapping case against the accused and are investigating. — Correspondent

Protest leaves over 20 injured

MUZAFFARABAD, Feb 23: Pitched battles between the police and people protesting against loadshedding left more than 20 people from both sides injured in the town of Hajira on Thursday, police sources and witnesses said.

The local traders’ union in Hajira had given a shutter down strike call against frequent power outages. After holding demonstration, as the protestor tried to get close to the Wapda grid station, heavy contingents of police lobbed tear gas shells besides resorting to baton charging to disperse the crowd.

In retaliation, protestors also pelted stones on police and the clash left 13 civilians, including some students, and eight policemen wounded.— Staff Correspondent