Swat: A police officer on duty at Sangota Public School in Swat, Mohammad Alam, fired at the school van, killing five-year-old Ayesha and injuring six other school girls and a teacher. The injured were immediately shifted to Saidu Sharif Hospital where they are receiving medical aid.
District Police Officer Swat Shafiullah Gandapur confirmed the arrest of the accused and assured that the murderer will be brought to justice after investigation. However, police sources are conflicting regarding the reason for the shooting, as some claim that it was accidental while others suggest that the officer was mentally ill.
Following the tragic incident, various social and political personalities in Swat visited the hospital to show their support for the victims. Regional Police Officer Malakand Nasir Mehmood Sati, along with District Police Officer Swat Shafiullah Gandapur and Deputy Commissioner Swat Irfanullah Wazir, also visited Saidu Sharif Hospital to assess the situation.
According to a Swat Police Spokesperson, the injured students were visited by officials at the hospital, and RPO Malakand has issued orders to the hospital administration to provide all facilities to the children under treatment.
The local public and private school association have strongly condemned the incident and protested against the recruitment of officers with a poor mental balance. They demand a transparent investigation of the incident and a report to be presented to the public.
It is important to note that this is not the first time such an incident has occurred in Swat, as a private school van in Charbagh was fired upon previously, and Malala Yousafzai was also injured in a similar incident in 2012.
