NAWABSHAH: Sindh United Party president Syed Zain Shah, speaking at the Chehlum gathering of the four persons killed in a Rangers-police raid in the Mari Jalbani village of Sakrand, has urged the government to serve justice to the victims.

The Sept 28 joint raid by around 70 security personnel in uniform and civvies was carried out, according to the police and Rangers authorities, to arrest one or more separatist militants believed to be hiding in the house of a local resident, Allahdad Jalbani.

The raiding force met with stiff resistance by a large number of local residents when security personnel opened fire killing two villagers and wounding several others, including Allahdad Jalbani. Two of the wounded villagers had died during treatment. Four security personnel were also injured during the ensuing violence.

The SUP had claimed that the victim villagers were its supporters and not separatists. The party, as well as other nationalist outfits and civil society organisatons, held a series of rallies and demonstrations in different towns and villages over the tragedy over the next few weeks.

Chehlum held for four villagers killed in Sept 28 raid by a Rangers-police team

SUP president Syed Zain Shah, along with other party leaders and activists, attended the deceased victims’ Chehlum in the village on Tuesday.

Speaking to the participants, he said the entire Sindh mourned the murder of innocent villagers.

He said that caretaker government had since admitted law enforcers’ mistake leading to the tragedy and also offered condolence to the bereaved families.

Although it had announced compensation to be paid to the families, the state institutions should also have brought the security personnel involved in the incident to justice so as to heal the wounds and create deterrence against a repeat of such incidents in future.

Allahdad Jalbani regretted that he lost his two sons but their killers were still not arrested. Earlier, wreaths were laid on the victims’ graves and fateha was offered.

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A three-member inquiry committee constituted by the caretaker chief minister on Sept 29 has already visited the village and recorded statements of some witnesses. The committee comprised the Hyderabad commissioner (head), DIG Special Branch Karachi and DIG Shaheed Benazirabad.

The caretaker home minister retired Brig Haris Nawaz had visited the village on Oct 19 where he offered condolence to the bereaved families and announced a compensation of Rs8 million for each of the deceased victim, Rs2 million for the injured and financial support for the families.

He had promised that a report on the incident would be released soon. However, the report is still awaited.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2023