Two killed, over 30 injured in Kala Bagh clash

Kala Bagh: Two people were killed and more than 30 injured as a result of a clash between two sectarian groups on the way of Chehlam procession in Kala Bagh town of Punjab province.

According to the media report, official sources said that the deceased have been identified as Ali—son of Barkatullah Sukna Mari—and Dalil Abbas—son of Aqeel Abbas Sukna Kukranwala.

According to Rescue officials, more than 30 people with bullet injuries were shifted to Kala Bagh THQ Hospital. 26 of them were later taken to Mianwali DHQ Hospital by Rescue 1122 ambulances and two were in critical condition. And two were shifted to hospital in Rawalpindi in critical condition.

The DHQ Hospital authorities told that the 26 injured are being given the best available treatment and seven of them are expected to be discharged in a day or two.

It is also reported that the exchange of fire between the two sides started on Monday evening and continued till late night.

Meanwhile, the market in Kala Bagh town remained closed on Tuesday on the call of local business organisations and police and rangers patrolled the area to avoid any untoward incident.

Considering the sensitivity of the situation, the Punjab government has imposed Section 144 in Mianwali district, while the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has registered a First Information Report (FIR) of the incident under the charges of murder, attempted murder.

Meanwhile, Punjab Inspector General Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar and Home Secretary Noor-ul-Amin Mengal along with a team of religious scholars visited Mianwali and Kalabagh on Tuesday.

Chairman of Islamic Ideological Council Mufti Raghib Naimi, Divisional Peace Committee Lahore Hafiz Zubair Hassan, Vice Principal of Jamia Ashrafia Lahore, Qasim Ali Qasmi of Jamia Al-Muntazar Model Town Lahore were also among the scholars who came with the IG Punjab.

During the visit, the IGP and Home Secretary held separate meetings with local leaders of communal groups and members of the District Peace Committee and advised them to remain committed to maintaining peace in the area.

Leaders of both sects vowed to uphold the agreement reached a few days ago in the presence of the district peace committee regarding the route of the Chehlam procession. The leaders blamed some miscreants for escalating the clash.

Expressing concern over the clashes, locals criticised the performance of the police and law enforcement agencies for failing to stop armed miscreants in the processions.