Tragedy strikes: Newly-wed bride among five killed in Lower Dir

Gunmen opened fire at a vehicle carrying the wedding party.

LOWER DIR: Five people, including the bride and a three-year-old, were killed when unidentified gunmen opened fire at a vehicle carrying a wedding party near Samarbagh stadium in Jandol Samarbagh on Sunday.

The motive behind the attack was said to be personal rivalry. Samarbagh police official Sher Akbar said the groom Anwar Khan, a resident of Samarbagh, his bride Kainat, 18, and immediate family members were on their way from Balambat to Tetar when the incident occurred.

Kainat, her sister Shabnam, 14, three-year-old Bilal, Saeed Afzal, 60, and Azizur Rehman were among those killed on the spot. Two others were critically wounded and taken to Civil Hospital Samarbagh. They were later shifted to District Headquarters Hospital Timergara, the official added.



While the culprits managed to escape, locals were surprised the incident had occurred only half a kilometer away from the Samarbagh police station.

The bridegroom lodged an FIR and accused Kashar Khan, Sher Zaman and Ameer Khan of Bajaur Agency. No arrests were made till the filing of this report.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29^th, 2013.