BAJAUR: The killing of a youth by unknown robbers in Bar Trass area of Salarzai tehsil sparked a protest demonstration by the villagers here on Friday.

Besides the victim’s relatives, scores of villagers and political activists participated in the protest and placed the victim’s body on Khar-Falang bypass road in Khar town for about two hours.

The protesters said that the victim Ayaz Khan, 24, was on way home on Thursday night when unknown robbers interpreted him to snatch his mobile phone. They said that the robbers opened fire on Ayaz when he showed resistance.

They said the victim was critically wounded and died on way to hospital.

Awami National party district president Gul Afzal Khan, Jamaat-i-Islami district chief Sardar Khan, Khar tehsil council chairman Haji Said Badshah of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and Pakistan Peoples Party activist Aurangzeb spoke on the occasion.

They condemned the incident and termed it failure of the district administration and police to give protection to the residents. They said the district had witnessed scores of such incidents during the last several months.

They said the growing incidents of mobile phone snatching and other street crimes were a matter of serious concern for the residents. They urged the senior officials of the district administration and police to take immediate steps for arrest of the criminals involved in such incidents.

The protesters dispersed peacefully after police and officials of the district administration gave them assurance to arrest the assailants as soon as possible.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2022