PESHAWAR: Taliban attacked a group of youths celebrating their victory in a cricket match in South Waziristan, killing one of them and injuring five.

The youths were punished because they had defied militants’ ‘order’ to stop beating drums.

Witnesses told Dawn by phone that some of the youths were beating drums after winning a cricket match in Karikote village near Wana when followers of Taliban leader Ainullah arrived there and ordered them to stop their celebration.

When the boys refused to obey them, a scuffle ensued, during which the militants opened fire at spectators. Markai,16, was killed and five other people were severely injured. The victims were taken to a local hospital.

Ainullah belonged to the Taliban group headed by Maulvi Mohammad Nazir who was killed in a US drone attack in January 2013, although he had signed a peace deal with the government.

Youths in the militancy-ravaged South Waziristan still take part in sports like cricket, volleyball and football. Residents said the Taliban themselves enjoyed folk music and beat drums on various occasions in the area.

Sources said that because of tensions caused by the attack, tribal elders had decided to hold a jirga on Saturday.

They said that tribal volunteers were threatening to avenge the attack.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2015

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