PESHAWAR: A man was killed for allegedly removing a member from a WhatsApp group in Sufaid Sang area on the outskirts of the provincial capital here on Saturday.

Assistant Sub-Inspector Inamullah Khan, in-charge of Shahgai police post, said the incident took place in Manra locality.

He said the area was divided into three tribes, including Manrakhel, Bhaikhel and Isakhel.

He said Manrakhel tribesmen were inspired from a WhatsApp group formed by Isakhel tribe, which had a land dispute with another tribe, and the group would be used for informing Isakhel tribesmen through a WhatsApp message in case the opponents attacked and tried to grab the tribe’s land.

On Friday, he said a resident, Humayun, filed a case with Regi police station that he along with his brother, Mushtaq, was on his way home when two accused, Ishaq and Ashfaq, opened fire at them.

He informed the police that they took shelter in a petrol station and his brother went inside a room, but Ishaq opened fire at him, killing him on the spot, while he (the complainant) miraculously remained unhurt.

Humayun said that the accused persons wanted the deceased to hand over the group admin but instead, the deceased removed the accused from the group.

He also told the police that an exchange of fire had taken place between Ashfaq and his deceased brother in the past.

The police said since Ashfaq, a Frontier Constabulary personnel, was nominated in the FIR, he was taken into custody from FC station, Hayatabad, and was later handed over to police. They said raids were being carried out to arrest the other accused person.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2025