PESHAWAR, April 21: At least three persons, including two children, were killed and 45 others sustained injuries when a man hurled a hand-grenade on a wedding function at Mehr Gul village in Mera Kachori on Sunday.

Sources said Jehanzeb, son of Ghulam Hussain, wanted to marry the daughter of Afghani Gul, but he was refused. Afghani accepted the proposal of Mohammad Aslam, son of Omer Said. About five days back the accused threatened Afghani Gul of dire consequences if he did not cancel the marriage.

On Sunday afternoon, when the guests had arrived at the home of the bridegroom, Jehanzeb hurled a hand-grenade on them, killing 11-year-old Aminullah, son of Lalazar; 10-year-old Suleman, son of Muneer, and Mir Hasan, son of Azmat. The injured were taken to the Lady Reading Hospital, where the condition of 17 of them was stated to be critical.

Sources said some people outside the attacked house had grabbed the accused, but he escaped.

The injured included Ishaq, Abdul Majeed, Amanullah, Kareem Khan, Zardad, Mohabat Khan, Hazrat, Mohammad Gul, Mohammad Salih, Abdus Samad, Ali Mohammad, Mohammad Jan, Zahid, Aziz, Ibrahim, Shafiullah, Mohammad Kareem, Azeem Khan, Sifatullah, Samiullah, Anwar, Alam Khan, Nasrullah and Mohammad Aslam, the bridegroom.