Three killed in Kohat violence; curfew in place

Published November 18, 2013
Firefighters extinguish a fire at a market after a clash in the northwestern city of Kohat, Nov 18, 2013. — Photo by AFP
Firefighters extinguish a fire at a market after a clash in the northwestern city of Kohat, Nov 18, 2013. — Photo by AFP

PESHAWAR: Army took control of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Kohat and Hangu cities and a curfew was imposed following a clash on Monday near Imambargah Said Habib in the Zargaran bazaar area of Kohat district. The curfew in Hangu was however lifted after two hours.

Station House Officer Cantonment police station Mazhar Jaan told Dawn.com that three people were killed in the clash near the imambargah.

The dead include two policemen and a civilian.

He further said several others were injured in the clash, adding that an angry mob of a religious group had set a number of shops on fire in Tirah bazaar.

Police said activists of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, a religious group, were carrying out a protest against the recent violence in Rawalpindi when they clashed with a rival group near the imambargah which led to the trouble and the protesters set ablaze some shops.

Following the exchange of fire, protesters also set ablaze a number of shops in Tirah bazaar and tension mounted after which the army was called in, police said.

Due to the growing tension, law enforcement agencies imposed a curfew in Kohat and Hangu and the army took control of both the cities.

The Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that army had been called in the cities of Hangu and Kohat to avert any untoward incident.

Deputy Commissioner Hangu, Said Ahmed Jan, lifted the curfew after the situation calmed down and said the measure had been taken for two hours following the Kohat incident to avert any untoward situation.

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

PAKISTAN has now registered 50 polio cases this year. We all saw it coming and yet there was nothing we could do to...
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...