The Kohat Police arrested 15 accused involved in Kohat firing incident, arson and provocative speeches and also recovered huge quantity of arms and ammunitions from their possession. Three different cases are also registered against them, said a press release issued here on Tuesday.
As per details, the local police apprehended five accused involved in Kohat firing, including Abid, Haider, Ghazanfar, Mazhar and Mairim. A case was also registered against them. The arms and ammunition recovered from them included seven riffles, one machinegun and three pistol/revolvers. Likewise, the local police also arrested eight persons on the charges of arson, looting and damaging public property while two persons were taken into police custody on provocative speeches. Two different cases were registered against them and further investigation initiated against the arrested accused.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Nasir Khan Durrani directed the Kohat Police to get footage of the incident and with its help ensure early arrest of the remaining accused. The police chief categorically made it clear that the writ of the law would be ensured at all cost and strict action would be taken against all those found involved in the gruesome incident without any discrimination.
Furthermore, curfew continued in Kohat City on the second day after a mob torched several shops and firing incidents on Monday that left three persons dead. District Police Officer (DPO) Kohat, Salim Marwat, said it would be lifted soon after normalisation of the situation. He said a Jirga comprising eminent Ulema of Sunni and Shia schools of thought have been convened to appraise them about the Government security measures, ease the tension and control the situation. He said law-and-order situation in Kohat was under control and policemen and security forces are patrolling in the troubled areas.
The Kohat Police Chief said 11 suspected persons had been arrested in connection of Monday's clashes and automatic weapons including rifles, machine guns and Kalashnikovs were recovered from their possession. He said curfew was clamped only in Kohat City and security forces were deployed on entry and exit points of the city to avert loss of human lives and properties. He said people have been asked to remain in their homes. Marwat said curfew would soon be relaxed once the security situation improves. He held an appeal to religious scholars to spread message of inter faith harmony, peace and tolerance. Marwat said that three people were killed in the clashes that were broke out in Zargaran bazaar when speeches were being made during a demonstration organised by the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat in protest against the Rawalpindi incident. Constable Noor Mohammad, pedestrian Khairur Rehman and another civilian were killed. More than 10 shops were set on fire in Teerah bazaar.