Sikh caretaker couple shot dead at Mardan gurdwara

MARDAN: A Sikh couple who had been serving as caretakers at a gurdwara in Mardan were shot dead on Wednesday after unidentified attackers opened fire on them in the Baboo Mohalla area, police officials said.

The victims were identified as Jagannath and his wife. The couple had been living within the gurdwara premises and had performed caretaker duties there for several years. The assailants fled after the shooting, officials said.

Police response and investigation

Law enforcement agencies were informed soon after the attack and reached the site to begin initial proceedings. Minority lawmaker Suresh Kumar, District Police Officer Masood Bangash and SP Investigation Maria Mustafa also visited the crime scene along with a heavy police contingent to review the collection of evidence and oversee the early stages of the investigation.

Rescue 1122 personnel shifted the bodies to a nearby hospital for post-mortem examination. Police said a First Information Report had been registered against unidentified suspects at the Counter-Terrorism Department police station on the complaint of Amarjeet Lal, the brother-in-law of the deceased.

The FIR includes murder charges as well as provisions under anti-terrorism laws, and investigators are treating the case as an act of terrorism. Officials said special investigation teams had been formed and that the inquiry was proceeding from multiple angles to determine the motive for the killings and trace those responsible.

No arrests had been made by the time of filing.