QUETTA: Two persons were killed and nine others injured when the local administration and police initiated an operation to reclaim an encroached land in Chashma Achozai here on Sunday.
In response, the angry protesters blocked the Airport Road at two locations, but dispersed after the police used tear gas.
According to Quetta Division Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat, the local administration and police initiated an operation on Sunday to reclaim an encroached land in Chashma Achozai.
During the operation, the land mafia members opened fire, resulting in the death of two of their own individuals. According to the administration, the encroachers are Afghan refugees, and further action will be taken against them.
Deputy Commissioner Quetta Saad bin Asad reported that the police and district administration, under court orders, surrounded the area to launch the operation.
The land mafia opened fire on the assistant commissioner, police, and local administration, injuring police personnel and bystanders.
Nevertheless, the police continued their operation. The deputy commissioner further said that the district administration sought police assistance to reclaim 298 acres of private land following a civil judge’s orders.
The land mafia attacked the police and civilians, resulting in the death of two bystanders. Following this, the land mafia blocked roads and began protesting.
Health department spokesperson Dr. Waseem Baig said the bodies and the injured had been transferred to the civil hospital.
Meanwhile, in protest against the operation, the residents of Quetta blocked the Airport Road at Almo Chowk and Baleli placing bodies on the road.
Nawab Suleiman Khilji, who led the protest at Almo Chowk, claimed that three of their people were killed and 25 injured.
He said the people who also claimed rights to the land were involved in firing against them. He demanded that FIRs be filed against those identified. He claimed that their families had been living in the locality since 1978 and questioned the claim that they were Afghan refugees.
He accused the influential individuals of instigating action against them and asserted that their protests would continue. The protesters later reopened the Airport Road at Almo Chowk and Baleli.