Row over land lease: Two Railways cops killed in Mardan clash

MARDAN: At least two constables of Railways police were killed and six other people injured in a clash with the owners of a mega mart and their employees, Rescue 1122 and local sources said.

The sources added that the owner identified as Jamshed, son of Sher Zaman, a resident of Bakhshali Road, got land on lease from the Railway officials on Mardan-Nowshera Road and established a mart there.

They added that the lease of the land expired a few days ago, therefore, the Railways officials sealed the mart. However, the owner allegedly reopened it without the permission of the Railways authorities.On Sunday morning, the Railways police reached the spot, where harsh words were exchanged between the two sides, leading to an armed clash.

Railways police constables identified as Muhammad Waqas and Muhammad Umar were killed while Railways police station SHO Inspector Feroz, mart owner Jamsheed, Munsif Ali, Sheraz, Mazullah and Bilal Shah were injured in the clash.

The injured were taken to the Mardan Medical Complex.District Police Officer Zahoor Babar Afridi, SP City Shafiur Rahman and SP Investigation Arshad Khan reached the spot.