DERA GHAZI KHAN: A security guard of the Government High School, Sarwarwali, Multan Road, was gunned down by four armed men here on Monday, though police are reluctant to declare it as an act of terrorism. The family members of the deceased and local residents later blocked the Dera-Multan Road in protest for a couple of hours. The district police issued a statement claiming that the security guard was not targeted and it was not an act of terrorism. The killing scared the students and teachers in the area, and a number of schools were closed after receiving the news about the murder of the guard. The area people said security guard Ghulam Abbas was performing his duty at the school gate. Four unidentified men reportedly attempted to enter the school and opened fire on him when Abbas put up resistance. Meanwhile, the second guard Mohammad Afzal fired in the air to disperse the assailants. Police said DPO Ghulam Mubashir Maikan, DSP Sadder Irfan Farooq Khosa, ASP City Shahbaz Elahi, SHO Darahma along with a heavy contingent of police after receiving information about the incident. The police cordoned off the area. The students were on break when the firing incident took place. It caused stampede and most of students made their exit through the back side. However, the DPO later said the guard was killed by his own rifle accidentally and it was not a terrorist activity. He said an investigation was underway. The police said CCTV footage has been taken into custody. He said both school guards were trained at the District Police Lines.
