DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Killing of a man in an alleged police encounter sparked a protest by his family, who placed the body of the 25-year-old at the GPO Chowk, blocking the road here onTuesday.

The protesters alleged that Arif Mapal, a resident of Nawab area, was killed during an encounter at Ubhaya Bridge in the jurisdiction of the university police station.

The protesters set old tyres on Kre, erected barricades, and chanted slogans against the police, disrupting traffic, and causing hardships to commuters, especially the students, who were going to take part in the matriculation examinations.

Police later issued a clariHcation stating that the man was not 1(illed in a police encounter, but was shot dead by unknown assailants.

Following the protest, ASP city Ali Hamza along with other police officials reached the scene, and held negotiations with the protesters, assuring them that a formal inquiry into the incident would be launched.

Later, the protesters ended the road blockade.GRANTED BAIL: A local court on Tuesday granted bail to all the seven accused in the Bhagwani Shumali vani case following a reconciliation agreement reached between the parties involved.

Additional sessions judge Asif Kamal accepted the reconciliation document presented by defence counsel, Saleemullah Baloch and approved bail for the accused Inayatullah, Ghulam Fareed, Imran, Ramzan, Kifayatullah, Jalal, and Nazir.

Each individual was released on bail with the condition of submitting two sureties of Rs100,000.

This case involved a highly disturbing incident in which an 11-year-old girl was subjected to vani a traditional but illegal practice as part of a tribal dispute resolution.

In a tragic turn of events, the girl`s father, Adil Hajam, reportedly took his own life in despair.

The incident sparked widespread outrage in the community, prompting swift action from law enforcement, which led to the arrest of all seven accused.-Correspondent