MARDAN, Oct 12: Century-old Shisham, Mulberry (Toot) and Eucalyptus trees were hewed down at Umara Khan Cannons in Mardan when the authorities decided to widen the roundabouts under the Khushal scheme.

Under the Khushal scheme the officials have started work on the extension of three roundabouts namely, College Chowk, Circuit House Chowk and Umara Khan Cannons.

Umara Khan, popularly known as Napoleon of the subcontinent was a Pushtoon hero who fought against the British rule in 1895 in Dir state but was defeated by the British’s and his cannons were brought by the guides cavalry to Mardan and were placed in a Yadgar (memorial).

The Yadgar was built in memory of those soldiers of guides cavalry who laid their lives in Kabul in 1879 for the Britishers.

These trees were either planted at the time or just after the construction of the building more than 100 years ago.

Last year, the then DC of Mardan Hanif Orak Zai, hewed down some 20 Shisham trees, about 80-to 100-year-old, near the circuit house.