Youth killed, several injured in festive firing

PESHAWAR: At least one youth lost life while many others were wounded when hit by stray bullets during celebratory fire in different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Chand Raat- the night before the Eidul Fitr festival.

Thousands of shots were fired in Peshawar, Bannu, Nowshera, Lakki Marwat, Waziristan, Mardan, Swabi, Charsadda and other districts on the Chand Raat.

Reports said a young boy lost his life when hit by a bullet in the Hassankhel area of Peshawar on Sunday night. Police officials said they are confirming the incident with the local authorities.

Some social media reports said 15 people were wounded in a festive firing in Bannu.

A local police official, however, denied it, saying only three people were injured.

There was a video in circulation on social media in which a bearded man was seen injured after being hit in the head by a stray bullet. Police had launched a special campaign against the menacing practice, but the force badly failed in ensuring ban on the celebratory firing.

Tens of thousands of shots are fired in the air on the occasion of any festival, wedding in KP. Despite several campaigns, celebratory firing is yet to be stopped in any part of the province.