SWABI: A fire gutted a tobacco kiln (bhatta) in Hund village here on Monday, rescue officials said.

Luqman Khan, an official of Rescue 1122, said when they reached the spot on being informed, the fire had already engulfed the tobacco kiln, and they tried to prevent the fire from reaching to nearby godown and other buildings.

Zahir Gul, owner of the kiln, estimated his loss to be at Rs300,000.

Meanwhile, rescue officials said a fire also burnt down grass and bushes along the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway near the Swabi Interchange, halting traffic for some time on Sunday night.

The firefighters called by the motorway police succeeded in putting out fire after an hour.

The motorway officials said it seemed some unidentified persons had set the bushes on fire.

SUSPECTED KILLER ARRESTED: The police on Monday arrested a man for committing a murder.

A few days ago, Nisar Mohammad, a resident of Swabi city, had got registered an FIR, stating that his brother, Hamza, was killed by unknown assailants.

The police identified the suspected killer as Farzand Khan, who admitted to the killing over a rivalry.

Separately, the police arrested a proclaimed offender, namely Bilal, and his two facilitators – Ismail and Sadiq – during a search operation in Tordher area on Monday. The operation was led by DSP Chota Lahor Iftikhar Ali and SHO Tordher Sub-Inspector Mohammad Altaf.

A Kalashnikov, two pistols and dozens of cartridges were recovered from them.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2022