Newlywed couple murdered in Battagram

A newlywed couple was brutally murdered, while a young man lost his life after being struck by celebratory gunfire during a wedding ceremony in two separate incidents on Sunday.

Shimlai Police said that a newly married couple was shot dead under mysterious circumstances in Donga Khet in late hours. The groom, Sharain, son of Jehanzaib, had tied the knot just a month earlier. During the night, unidentified assailants entered the couple's home and ruthlessly gunned them down.

The bodies were sent for post-mortem examination, and a case has been registered against unknown perpetrators. The horrific nature of the attack has left the local community in a state of shock and fear, with many now feeling increasingly unsafe in their own homes.

The second incident occurred in Shangli Pain village, where a wedding celebration turned to grief. Ali Hassan, a young guest who had travelled from Lahore to attend the festivities, was critically injured after being struck by stray bullets from aerial firing. He was immediately rushed to Ayub Medical Complex (AMC) Abbottabad, but sadly succumbed to his injuries during treatment. Police have launched investigation.

Such tragedies caused by aerial firing during wedding celebrations are not uncommon in the Battagram district. Despite repeated incidents, the police have been widely criticised for their apparent inability to curb this reckless and outdated practice. Efforts by local committees to discourage the custom have also failed to bring about any tangible change.

Residents have blamed the police for their inaction, arguing that a lack of enforcement has allowed this dangerous tradition to persist.