20000413

14 killed,

30 hurt in

attack on majlis

ATTOCK: Fourteen persons were killed and about 30 were injured when some armed assailants threw hand grenades and opened indiscriminate firing at a Majlis-e-Aza in village Mallowali of district Attock, police said.

The gory incident took place between 10.30 p.m to 11.30 p.m on Tuesday, residents of the area and police said.

The DSP Mohammad Aslam Shahab told APP that assailants first fired a burst and then hurled three hand grenades at the gathering followed by indiscriminate firing.

"Four persons died on the spot while 10 others succumbed to injuries at hospitals," he said. "Four of the injured are in critical condition," he added.

About 25 to 30 persons were injured in the incidents, the police officer said.

Replying to a question he said, there were two constables and an officer were on the duty at Majlis. "One constable Mukhtar also killed in the attack."

When asked about the identification of the attackers, DSP said, "their identity could not be revealed at this point of time."

About the arrests he said, some of the accused had been arrested. However, the police did not give exact number of the accused arrested sofar neither divulge in any detail, saying, "it will affect the case."

The residents have identified some of the deceased as Hussain Ahmed, Amir Razzaq, Syed Ali Raza, Mukhtar Ahmed (police constable), Sagheer Jillani, Mohammad Ashraf, Ahmed Raza, Haji Noor Aalim, Murid Abbas, Ali and Anwaar Hussain.

The police did not give the names of injured and dead saying it will be issued officially by the district administration later on.

The situation is tense but under control in the village Mallowali on Wednesday. Besides police, army personnel were also deployed there to maintain law and order following the incident.ÑAPP