Sindh CM orders inquiry into killing of 4 villagers in Sakrand

Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar ordered an inquiry into the killing of four villagers in Sakrand.

According to the sources, four villagers were killed and nine others, including four Rangers personnel, were wounded in an operation carried out by law enforcement agencies in a Sakrand village to nab militants belonging to the outlawed Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA) on Thurs­day.

Addressing the matter in a press talk after attending a Rabiul Awwal procession at New Memon Mosque in the evening, the interim chief minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar expressed his sorrow and regret over the incident.

He said he had held a meeting with interim Sindh Home Minister retired Brigadier Haris Nawaz and sought the incident’s details.

“Such kind of incidents are painful and shouldn’t take place,” CM Baqar added.

The CM said he had formed a three-member committee to conduct an inquiry into the incident and directed them to report their findings within four days.

The inquiry committee will be headed by Hyderabad Commissioner Khalid Hyder Shah and include the Shaheed Benazirabad Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) and Karachi DIG Special Branch.

An order issued by the Sindh Home Department stated that the committee would investigate the matter to determine the reasons for this clash resulting in the loss of precious lives and injuries to law enforcement personnel.

A Rangers spokesman, without providing details, in a statement said that an intelligence-based operation was launch­­ed against high-value targets.

“Upon seeing Rangers and police, miscreants attacked the raiding team causing injuries to four Rangers personnel and killing of three attackers”, he claimed.

Confirming the killing of four villagers, Benazirabad SSP Hyder Raza identified the wounded Rangers personnel as Abdul Rasheed, Mohammad Awais, Mohammad Naeem, Mohammad Owais Asghar, and policeman Mohammad Asif.

He claimed that the operation was carried out to nab outlawed Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA) militants.

Meanwhile, Sindh United Party (SUP) secretary general Roshan Burriro said that those killed were their supporters.

The villagers took to the streets and staged a sit-in on a section of the National Highway carrying coffins of the deceased persons.