MARDAN: Two officials of the railways police were martyred and eight others, including seven workers of a grocery store here sustained serious injuries during a ‘clash’ on Sunday.

The slain railway policemen were identified as Umar Khan and Waqas Khan, while inspector Feroz was injured in the firing.

On the other hand, seven injured workers of the grocery store were identified as Arshid Khan, Maazullah, Bilal Shah, Munsif Ali, Sheraz, Hilal and Jamshed.

Relevant officials and residents said officials of railways department had sealed the building of the store located along the Mardan-Nowshera Road a few days ago on expiry of its lease.

Police say incident occurred when officials tried to seal building on expiry of lease

The railway officials claimed lease of the mega mart had expired, but still it operated there, prompting its sealing.

However, owners of the mart had moved the Peshawar Hight Court against the action of sealing their business place by the railways officials, and had obtained a stay.

When the owners were reopening their business place, a big contingent of railway police arrived at the scene and sealed it again.

The police raid led to a clash, and then an exchange of fire between the railway police and owners and staffers of the mart. Resultantly, two railway police were killed and eight others injured.

The railway officials alleged their personnel were killed and injured by the gunshots fired by the workers of the mart, but on the other hand, the owners of the mart insisted the railways police were hit by the firing of their own colleagues.

The business owners claimed they had legally got the railway land on lease and had invested their money there with the purpose to boost the economy of the Mardan district.

They claimed the railway officials had targeted them without any justification.

Officials of at the city police station said they had arrested dozens of suspected persons. They said they had registered FIR against owners of the mega mart and their staffers.

The police officials said they had also begun further investigations into the case.

Meanwhile, funeral prayers of slain railway personnel were held at the Mardan Police Lines later in the day.

Deputy commissioner Fayyaz Khan Sherpao, DPO Zahoor Babar Afridi, divisional superintendent Pakistan Railways Maqsood Khan, SP railways Mehrkausar Abbas and DSP railways Inam Khan were also in attendance.

Earlier, a contingent of Mardan police presented a salute to the martyrs.

The district administration and police officials placed floral wreaths on the coffins of the martyrs.

Later, the bodies were sent to their native areas for burial.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2024