PESHAWAR: A driver of school vehicle was killed and two students injured when unknown assailants opened fire when they were going to school In Charbagh Bagh area of Swat.

The school van was dropping around 10 students to school when it was attacked by armed gunmen on a motorcycle on Monday morning, police said in a statement, adding that two assailants manged to escape from the crime scene.

Soon after the incident Rescue 1122 teams reached the spot and shifted injured students to the hospital for treatment.

Police have cordoned off the area and started a search operation.

The driver who died on the spot is identified as Hussain Ahmed son of Anayatullah, and two students of Swat Public School injured in the incident are Azhar Hussain son of Jan Bakhat resident of Dir and Mammon son of Safiullah resident of Chitral.

The attack has sparked protests in the region and led up to 2,000 girls and boys to walk out of classes in protest.

The Private Schools Association (PSA) announced to shut down all schools in protest against firing incident at school van.

Driver’s family seeks justice

Family members of the deceased driver and local people are holding protest demonstrations in various areas of Swat against the worsening law and order situation and demanding the authorities arrest the culprits involved in the incident, adding that their protest would continue till the arrest of the culprits.

Meanwhile, the Swat police formed a team comprising SP Upper Swat Sajid, DSP Ijaz Khan and AC Charbagh Shakirullah to negotiate with the protesters.

After hour-long talks, the family members warned that they would continue the protest with the body of the deceased driver placed on the road till the arrest of the culprits.