SWAT: Nine members of a family were gunned down over “what seems to be a matrimonial dispute” in Bagardara area of Batkhela Tehsil in Malakand, police said Wednesday.
All the family members were asleep when they were fired upon and killed by some “unknown assailants” after barging into the house, the police informed after initial investigation.
Among the dead are four women, two children and three men. Local Levies officials rushed to the crime scene after receiving alert and shifted the bodies to Batkhela hospital for autopsy and medico-legal formalities.
According to police and rescue officials, the suspects broke into the house at around 2am and opened indiscriminate fire on the sleeping family, killing men, women and children of the house allegedly over a marital dispute.
Based on information collected thus far, officials of the Malakand Levies force suspect that the murders were committed by a son-in-law of the house.
The suspect’s wife was reportedly staying in her maiden home after a dispute with him. When the suspect failed to resolve the quarrel with his wife, he barged into her home and murdered the family before fleeing.
The police believe that the suspect hails from Swat.
The deceased were identified as Hasan Shah, Hazrat Ali, Hazrat Bilal, Zohran, Zehran, Rabia, Ruqqaya Bibi and Habiba, wife of Hasan Shah.
A case was registered against the killings and further investigation is underway, claim officials.
Residents of the area and aggrieved family members staged a protest against the horrifying murders and called for justice.
Assistant Commissioner Batkhela Shakeel Ahmad Khan said that the incident appeared to be a matrimonial dispute.
The Malakand Levies has started investigation and arrested three suspects. The suspects have confessed to the crime during investigation.
KP CM takes notice of nine people’s killing
Meanwhile, Caretaker Chief Minister (CM) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Muhammad Azam Khan on Wednesday while taking notice of the killing of nine people inside a house in Batkhela tehsil of Malakand division, directed the police officers to immediately investigate the incident and take necessary action for arresting the culprits.
Muhammad Azam Khan in his condolence message, expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of lives, prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed souls in peace and give their bereaved families strength to bear the loss with fortitude.
He said, “The act is shameful, brutal, and condemnable.”
“The elements involved in the incident cannot escape from the grip of the law under any circumstances and all possible efforts will be made to provide complete justice to the victim’s family,” he added.
