A local transport leader was wounded in an armed attack in Swat’s Matta area, while his son, nephew and guard were killed. Police said three suspects had been arrested and a search operation was continuing.
SWAT: Local transport leader Afzal Gujjar was injured and his son, nephew and guard were killed when unidentified attackers opened fire on his vehicle in the Shakardara area of Matta on Sunday night, police said on Monday.
Police told local media that the assailants used heavy weapons in the attack. During the exchange of fire, Gujjar was wounded and later shifted to hospital for treatment. His son, Behram Khan, was among the three people killed in the incident.
Swat District Police Officer Umar Khan said that a heavy police contingent cordoned off the area and launched a search operation after the shooting.
He said three people had been arrested and that the search operation was continuing. Police officials said investigators were trying to determine the motive behind the attack and establish the exact circumstances in which it took place. A Swat Police spokesperson also confirmed that law enforcement agencies were pursuing the attackers and gathering evidence from the site.
Road blockade after attack
On Monday morning, relatives of the victims and local residents blocked the Matta-Mingora road by placing the bodies on the road surface. They demanded the arrest of those responsible and said the blockade would continue until action was taken.
Gujjar, who suffered an injury to one leg, accused police and other law enforcement agencies of failing to respond effectively. He alleged that around 40 armed men equipped with heavy weapons, including rocket launchers, attacked him and his family. “When I was in the hospital, police officials were with me in Matta Hospital, and I was constantly receiving phone calls that the attackers continued firing until late at night,” he said.
He further alleged that the attackers set his vehicles on fire before fleeing early in the morning and claimed that, despite repeatedly informing police officials, they did not stop them.
The investigation into the attack was underway, according to officials.
