02 November 2004	Tuesday	18 Ramazan 1425

MARDAN, Nov 1: At least 31 people were killed in different incidents in the month of October in Mardan. According to statistics, 15 people were gunned down in various areas of the district over family feuds or petty issues , while three women and four men committed suicide.

One man committed suicide by shooting himself with a pistol after having a quarrel with his mother at Gujarat village, while two hanged themselves in their houses at Garhi Dolatzai. Another person committed suicide near Takhtbai.

A married woman, Jamiat Begum, 18, set herself on fire in her house at Neway Killey after a quarrel with family members. Two other women, one each at Doday village at Dargai and Shergarh, also committed suicide in similar manner.

Nine women were gunned down in various part of the district, including a newly-wed girl who was killed by her husband at Shergarg. Three women were killed by their brothers-in-law at Shergarg, Takhtbai and Guli Bagh, a woman and her teenage daughter were killed by her father-in-law at Takhtbai, one was killed in the same town over a matrimonial dispute, while a woman was found dead at Bala Garhi, about eight kilometres from here.

Social circles have expressed fear over the deteriorating law and order situation in the district and said that crimes particularly against women have been on the rise.

Moreover, they said, thefts, carjacking, burglaries and road robberies had become a norm as the law enforcement agencies had failed to control the situation.