SWABI: Celebratory firing at the engagement ceremony of a 13-year-old boy in a village in Chota Lahor tehsil on Wednesday left one person dead and three injured, said police and eyewitnesses.

They said that soon after the engagement of Rukhsar Khan at a mosque in Dodher village, the guests resorted to firing in the air, which resulted in injuries to four guests. They were taken to Shahmansoor hospital complex, where one of them identified as Inamullah Khan succumbed to injuries.

The three injured were identified Mohammad Talha, Mohammad Tauseef and Hamad Khan, all belonging to the same village.

When contacted, a police official said that the injured Tauseef had registered an FIR against Jehan Zeb Khan, father of Rukhsar, and his brother, Tufail Khan.

The police official said that as there was ban on festive firing the violators would face action.

PROTEST: Residents of Anbar village on Wednesday demonstrated against the anti- encroachment drive.

The protesters gathered near the local bus stop and staged a protest there.

The administration, before initiating the anti-encroachment campaign, had served notices on the encroachers to vacate the spaces on their own or face action.

The campaign has already completed in the district headquarters and some areas on the Swabi-Mardan road. Later, it was extended to Anbar.

When contacted, a concerned official told Dawn that there was no justification of the protest as the drive was meant to clear the public places of encroachments.

However, the protesters disputed the claim and vowed to continue protesting if the drive was not halted forthwith.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2014