CHINIOT: A trailer driver allegedly killed a man and injured another while they were trying to prevent him from passing through an under-construction link road near Chak 13-JB on Monday.

The incident occurred when trailer driver Abdullah Zafar attempted to use the link road.

Local resident Naveed Anjum informed the driver that the deputy commissioner (DC) had banned heavy traffic from using link roads due to an increase in accidents and road damages caused by the heavy loads. Naveed requested the driver to use the highways instead of the link road. However, the driver, after a heated exchange, attacked Naveed with a knife with the help of his conductor, Ghulam Abbas, from the Jhang area.

When another resident, Muhammad Usman, tried to intervene and rescue Naveed, he too was attacked with the knife.

Upon hearing their cries for help, a large number of locals gathered and caught both the driver and the conductor. Both injured persons were rushed to the Chiniot DHQ Hospital where Naveed succumbed to his injuries, while Usman received treatment for his injuries.

The Saddar police impounded the trailer and arrested the suspects.

Published in Dawn, Aug 1st, 2023