KOHAT: Five people were killed and six others, including four women, were injured when rival groups traded fire in Kach Banda area near the Hangu Police Training College on Friday.

The police identified the deceased as Rehman, Shamim, Zahidullah, Sawal Nazar, belonging to the rival groups, and a passerby, namely Mirza Ali.

The Hangu city police said the injured from both the sides were identified as Shamshad Bibi, Haleema Bibi, Tasleema Bibi, Sadqa Bibi, Abdul Kareem and Fareed Khan.

The police said they had arrested the accused involved in the crossfire and registered a case against them.

Meanwhile, unknown persons vandalised a statue of legendry tribal freedom fighter Ajab Khan Afridi erected at the Darra Adamkhel Chowk the other day.

Pakistan Army had constructed the statue after freeing Darra Adamkhel from the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan militants.

There were rumors that the act had been committed by tribesmen in protest against the merger of former Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Some tribal elders said sinister elements wanted the army to return to the region again so that the tribal status of the region could be restored.

OPEN KUTCHERI: Deputy commissioner Roshan Mehsud on Friday reprimanded the revenue officials for not taking action against land grabbers.

Speaking at an open kutcheri held to address people’s issues concerning the revenue department, he warned the patwaris of strict action if they committed negligence in performance of duty.

He ordered on the spot resolution of some of the problems highlighted by the people, and directed the officials to resolve the others and submit reports.

Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner said the gas supply to local industries would be limited to ensure uninterrupted supply to the domestic consumers.

In a statement issued on Friday, he said Section 144 had been enforced till January 6, 2022, under which industries would be supplied gas from 9am to 4pm daily to provide relief to domestic consumers in peak winter.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2021