SWABI: A bridegroom had to spend his wedding night in the police lockup for indulging in festive firing. SHO Zaida police station Farooq Khan told Dawn on Sunday that Maruf Ali was caught red-handed while indulging in excessive firing in the air during his wedding ceremony on Saturday night.

In view of strict instructions of district police officer Haroon Rashid Khan against festive firing, he said a police patrol party soon after hearing the gunshots reached the Kadi village and arrested the bridegroom.

Meanwhile, an elderly man was killed after an altercation with the accused over sugarcane harvest.

SHO Kalu Khan police station Ajab Durrani said Qaim Ahmed, 80, was busy in harvesting sugarcane in his fields when Bilal Khan came there and opened fire on him with a Kalashnikov after an altercation, killing him on the spot.

He said as soon as they received information about the incident, they arrested the accused along with the Kalashnikov. A case was registered against him, he said.

DRY SPELL: Farmers and their leaders fear the prolonged dry spell would impact the wheat production in Swabi district.

They were speaking at a gathering organised by Kisan Board here.

The participants said lack of rain was a bad omen for the wheat crop.

Alam Sher Gohati, provincial general secretary of Anjuman-i-Kashtkaran, said more delay in rain would cause more damage to the crop. He said farmers in arid areas were totally dependent on rainfall for a good crop.

Khalid Khan, district president of Kisan Board, said farmers were offering special prayers for rain.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2023