SHO, driver killed as train hits police van in Nowshera

NOWSHERA: The station house officer (SHO) of the Azakhel Police Station and his driver were killed and a police inspector sustained injuries when a Peshawar-bound train hit a police van here on Tuesday.

It was learnt that the Khushal Express coming from Karachi hit the van carrying SHO Azakhel Police Station, Khadmeen Khan, constable driver Ziaur Rehman and Inspector Akhtar Hussain. There was no barricade at the level crossing that caused the accident.

The SHO and the driver were killed on the spot while the police inspector was injured and taken to a hospital in Pabbi town wherefrom he was referred to Peshawar.The policemen were going to review security arrangements for the public meeting of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) in Azakhel. It would be addressed by JUI-F head Maulana Fazlur Rehman and the party’s secretary general Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, who is also Deputy Chairman Senate.  The train rammed into the van and wrecked it badly. A heavy contingent of the police arrived at the spot after the accident.Meanwhile, the funeral prayers of the slain cops were offered at the Police Lines in Nowshera. They were laid to rest with state honours.