Chitral: Triple Murder in Drosh Valley, family demands judicial investigation

By: Gul Hamaad Farooqi

Chitral, June 10: A triple murder case in the Drosh Valley of Chitral district last year had shocked the entire region. The heinous murders, reportedly, had taken place due to a dispute over a barren piece of land. Three people, Noorul Mulk, Sameeul Mulk (9th grade student) and Muzazul Mulk, were shot dead by still unidentified killers.

According to details shared by Chitral Police, the father of Noorul Mulk and Muazazul Mulk, residents of Drosh Valley, had purchased a barren piece of land from Akhunzada Gulam Dastagir. Police, quoting the brother of the deceased, said that two other locals, Maqsoodul Mulk and Iqbal, were allegedly conspiring to occupy the land and for this purpose they conspired to kill the real owners by hiring mercenaries from Wardag and Dameel area, located on the Pak-Afghan border, near Arandu.

Brother of the deceased has told the police that Iqbal and Maqsood hired mercenaries and on the fourth of May 2014 they started threatening them of forcefully occupying their land. “When my brother went to the barren piece of land they opened indiscriminate fire on him with automatic and banned bore weapons and as a result Noorul Mulk died on the spot. His youngest son Sameeul Mulk, who was a student of 9th class, covered his father’s body trying to protect him but the killers did not stop firing and shot him also along with his father”, the brother has told the police. He has accused a man named Jihanzeb of opening fire on Sameeul Mulk  and killing him. 

“After that my second brother went out hearing the sound of bullets being fired. Iqbal opened fire on him with a Kilashankov (AK-47) and he was injured”, reported the brother. He further said that the injured brother, Muzazul Mulk was rushed to the DHQ hospital in Chitral, where he remained under treatment for three days. He also said that Muzazul Mulk and Noorul Mulk were retired from Pakistan Army and they were well known football players.

The Drosh police, reportedly, lodged a cross FIR against Shamsul Mulk but did not recor statement of Muazazul Mulk who passed away after three day. The brother of the deceased that by not recording the statement of the injured man, the police deliberately acted in favor fo the accused murderers.

In this connection this scribe contacted Tajuddin, in-charge of  investigation staff Drosh, who confirmed that they had arrested most of the nominated persons and also recovered an Ak-47 and a pistol fron their posses which were allegedly used for the triple murder. 

On the complaint of Shamsul Mulk District Police Officer Ghulam Hussain, who is considered to be an honest police officer, suspended investigation officer Rahim Gul and deputed Tajuddin in his stead. Also, the case was forwarded to crime brand for thoroughly investigation.

District Surgeon Dr. Anwaruddin and Dr.  Rashid also confirmed that Muzazul Mulk was able to talk, walk and can give his statement to police before passing away. Even he was shown as “stable” in his referal chit.

DPO Chitral Ghulam Hussain confirmed that due to negligence in this case investigation officer was suspended from his service and the case was handed over to crime branch. Dying declaration or statement of injured eye witness is most important for any criminal case but in present case local police not recorded statement of Muzazul Mulk or his dying declaration despite passing of 3 days which was also included in charge sheet DPO confirmed.

Crying and weeping widows, daughters of deceased person and sisters of youngest Sameeul Mulk told this scribe that they had timely informed Drosh police after hearing the gun-fire but they (the police) did not come timely to control the situation.  Daughter of Noorul Mulk said that her father and brother were killed brutality and that now there’s no male person left in the family. Noorul Mulk left a widow and 3 daughters behind while Muzazul Mulk left 5 daughters and 1 son of 2 years.

Daughter of Muzazul Mulk said that the criminals also want to kill her only brother who is two years old. She said that the child had mysteriously fallen in a pond a few weeks back. She expressed the suspicion that the child may have been thrown in the pond by the accused. She said that the child was rescued by local people. 

Local journalist Shahriyar Baig said that police station Drosh is situated only one and half kilometer from the crime scene but the police reached there after 5 hours.

Locals, some of who claimed to be eyewitnesses said that the rival group used mercenaries in this murder case.

It is being said that Wardag and Pathans from Dameel and Arandu are invovled in criminal cases and that using for criminal  and murder cases and most of Chitrali people hire them for this purpose.

This scribe also contacted rival group whose 2 persons are injured and under treatment at Drosh hospital but both belong to Wardag family from Dameel who are considered to be mercenaries. They confirmed to have seen  Iqbal having a Klashanko in his hand but after recieving bullet they could not see the real situation.

Members of the bereaved family have appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Prime Minister, Chief Minister KPK and Chief of Army staff for taking action the killers and pnishing them.