BAHAWALPUR, July 30: Bodies of the four church massacre accused, shot dead by police in an encounter on Sunday, were handed over to their families on Monday night after postmortem conducted at Bahawal Victoria Hospital.

Local EDO (education) Muhammad Arif Wattoo received the body of son Talha alias Nadeem while Khushi Muhammad received his son Muhammad Kashif alias Kashi’s body and took it to Kot Ladha village near Gujranwala.

The body of Manzoor Husain alias Mumtaz was received by his father Habibullah who took it to Mailsi and body of Ahsan Moavia was received by his brother Mumtaz Ali who took it to Haroonabad, district Bahawalnagar.

The bodies of the two unidentified people were handed over to the caretaker of the anatomy department at the Quaid-i-Azam Medical College.

Talha was laid to rest in the local Noorshah graveyard. His funeral prayer was attended by a large number of people.

Meanwhile, nine police officials, who were injured in the encounter, were shifted to Bahawal Victoria Hospital from Khairpur Tamewali THQ Hospital.

They include inspectors Khawar Zaman and Rao Jamshed, sub-inspectors Arshad Warriach and Mujahid Abbas and five constables. They have been admitted to the surgical ward of the BVH.

HUNGER STRIKE: Some farmers on Monday observed hunger strike over unchecked water theft by the influential farmers.

They alleged the landlords greased irrigation officials palms and steal water for irrigation, depriving farmers at tail-ends of canals of their due.

Meanwhile, district Nazim at a press conference told newsmen that he had directed local irrigation executive engineers to inquire into the matter.