CHITRAL: Three persons drowned when a car plunged into Chitral River here on Tuesday afternoon.

The mishap occurred near Kuju village. The car was coming to Chitral city from Prayeet village with three persons onboard.

Chitral city sub-divisional police officer Sajjad Hussain told Dawn that the driver lost control of the vehicle due to high speed.

He said two of the deceased were identified as Hanif and Akram Khan of Prayeet village, while the name of the third could not be ascertained.

Hussain said the teams of Rescue 1122 and police rushed to the spot and started search and rescue operation to recover the bodies from the river, but the vehicle was found empty as the bodies were swept by strong currents.

Meanwhile, Chitral Levies personnel shot dead an alleged outlaw in Bashqar Gol area of Upper Chitral on Tuesday morning.

Deputy commissioner Haseebur Rehman Khalil confirmed the incident, saying a contingent of the force stationed in Sor Laspur rushed to the spot when a villager reported that some unknown persons in upper parts of the pasture, had slaughtered a yak and were busy in devouring it.

He said when the personnel arrived, the armed men opened fire, leading to a gun battle, which continued for more than two hours.

One of the outlaws received bullet injuries and died on the. However, his accomplices fled.

Mr Khalil said the body could not be removed from the spot as arms and ammunition were strapped around it. He said bomb disposal squad had been called for defusing the explosives.

The DC said identity of the assailant could be determined once the ammunition was defused and search of the body was carried out.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2025