KOHAT: Locusts have attacked green pastures and crops in Bazid Khel and mountainous regions of Ublan.

An agriculture department official, Haziq Ali Shah, told Dawn that the most affected areas were located along the Indus Highway, Hangu Road and Afghan refugee camps.

He said on local people’s complaints they sent teams to spray the areas near the Ublan refugee camp and the standing crops in Ghamkol Pir on Monday.

He said more teams would be sent on Tuesday (today) to spray the rest of the affected areas.

The official said in some areas eggs had hatched, adding a single locust gave 120 eggs. Now the baby locusts are resting on the ground, and after a few weeks they would have wings and fly in swarms to the crops, trees and grassy lands, he said.

The official said they had received reports about the presence of elder locust in Mian Gahri, Ustarzai and other parts on Hangu Road.

He said it was easy to kill locusts with spray when they sat on the ground. He said in summer ideal time for killing the elder locusts was from 5am to 7am.

He said the department had been provided with two heavy duty vehicles and a number of spray machines and pumps.

ROBBERS GANG BUSTED: The police busted a five-member gang of highway robbers who had let lose a reign of terror on Hangu Road by snatching a vehicle after killing his driver, and taking away goods and cash from driver of a pick-up.

ASP Danial Ahmed Javed and investigation officer Yousuf Khan told journalists at a press conference that on May 10 the criminals snatched a van from Atif Khan of Ganjiano Kalay area of Hangu, also killing him when he offered resistance. The incident took place near Ustarzai police station.

On May 9, Mr Javed said the robbers had deprived the driver of a pick-up truck and his friend of Rs150,000, mobile phones and a huge quantity of chicken.

He said a team constituted by the district police officer arrested the five-member gang, recovered the stolen vehicle from Orakzai and cash. A three-wheeler and weapons were also seized.

He said the police had obtained a two-day physical remand of the criminals for further investigation.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2020