Schoolyard brawls: Deadly games of campus cricket

Three people, including ninth grader shot and killed on school grounds.

FAISALABAD:

Three people, including a ninth grade student, were shot and killed in the Government Higher Secondary School on Monday. The incident occurred over a fight between two students over the results of a cricket match a few days ago.

According to police officials, several Chak-72 Gaddian village residents came to the Government Higher Secondary School on Monday afternoon to resolve a recent fight between rival student groups. “The whole thing occurred over a game of cricket two days ago. The teams disagreed over a student umpire’s decision regarding a fallen wicket and there was a huge brawl,” said a student, Haris. “They broke bottles on one of the team captain’s heads and everyone got involved,” he added.

Sadar Jaranwala police station constable Muhammad Malik said that he had been called to the site by the school administration after the shooting. “It was complete chaos. The students were terrified and people thought that more people might be killed. We apprehended the victim and disarmed him” he said.

According to eyewitnesses, two student factions had been threatening the lives of members of each gang following the initial altercation. “The group eventually struck a compromise after a panchayat was called to decide the matter. Over 21 people went to negotiate the matter with the school administration on Monday and we thought it was over but then someone began shooting,” said school teacher Rafiq. The Government Higher Secondary School has a total of 900 students admitted in the school and 38 teachers as well as 15 administrative staff. “I was busy in a meeting with the staff for preparation of the summer vacation schedule when we heard the firing,” the school head master said. “We came outside and saw that two people were lying dead adjacent to the school boundary wall and the attackers were already fleeing the scene,” he added.  “I immediately called 1122 and 15 and the police arrived ten minutes later.” the headmaster said.

The deceased were identified as Zeshan Anwar, 17, who was the son of Muhammad Anwar and Muhammad Ajmal, 26.

Two ninth grade students were injured in the encounter and Umar Draz, 16, and Muhammad Ali, 15, were both rushed to the hospital. Ali later succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital.

The police party headed by Saddar Superintendent Police (SP) Sadiq Dogar have registered a case against 17 people under Section 302, 148, 149 and 324 of the Pakistan Penal Code. Dogar said that a special team has been constituted for the arrest of the accused involved in the heinous crime. “So far we think that this was a long term rivalry that came to head at the cricket match,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2011.