20000320

9 of a family

massacred:

house burnt

ABBOTTABAD: At least nine persons belonging to the same family, including three children, were killed by some attackers on Saturday night near Havelian, some 19 km from here.

This gory incident took place at village Katha Kalanda. Murderers also set on fire two houses of the victims.

Police arrested three alleged killers on Sunday morning.

Unidentified persons barged into the house of Mohammad Akber, s/o Feroze Khan, in village Katha Kalanda at 10.30 p.m. on Saturday night and with automatic weapons killed Akber, his wife Zarina Taj, son Mohamamd Bashir, daughter Abida, Irshad Bibi, wife of Nazar Mohammad, Shamim wife of Mohammad Zaman, and her two minor daughters Razia and Naurin, and Asif.

Mohammad Siddiquie, son of Akber, sustained injuries.

The reasons behind the gruesome murders is stated to be illicit relations.

According to post mortem report, all three children were killed by smashing their heads against the wall. The killers also set on fire the house of the victims, which was completely gutted, locals said.

Soon after the tragic incident Havelian police reached the spot and took all the dead bodies into possession.

Inspector General of Police, NWFP, Saeed Khan, DIG Hazara Range, Fayyaz Khan Toru and SSP Abbottabad, Wasim Afzal also reached Havelian where a hunt for the killers was launched.

Police claimed to have arrested three suspect identified as Sher Zaman, Fakhar Zaman and Jalal after registering FIR under Sections, 302, 324, (QD), 148/149, 436/429 (PPC).

Police sources said that killings were the result of alleged illicit relations of Siddique from the victim family with a girl from killers' family.

After autopsy, all dead bodies were handed over to the heirs of the victims.

Moving scenes were witnessed when the funeral of the nine slain persons took place at Katha Kalanda Village.ÑAPP