KOHAT: A groom and his brother were briefly detained following the killing of two young participants of a wedding party in Bilitang here on Thursday after a brawl over a transgender dancer.

Sources said that a dance party had been arranged by the groom, Hamid, and his brother Hassan to celebrate the wedding and a transgender dancer, Alishe, was especially invited from Attock.

They said that in the end of the function a group of gangsters tried to forcibly take Alishe with them, but they were stopped by a group of participants who had arranged the dancer’s visit to Kohat. The latter was trying to pull out Alishe from the car when the rival group opened firing on Usman alias Mani, a fresh graduate, and a bargain center owner, Rashid. Rashid died on the spot while Usman succumbed to his injuries in a Peshawar hospital.

The police have registered a double murder case against the gangsters. They also arrested the groom and his brother, but later released them on assurance to report to the police whenever needed.

It may be mentioned here that former district police officer Sohaib Asharf had banned dancing and loud music parties besides firing in the air on the complaints of the people. The people were irked by firing in the air which could also result in accidental deaths.

Meanwhile, a woman was crushed to death by a truck in Ghulam Bnda here.

Police said that Ghazala and Mohammad Naveed were coming to Kohat from Khushalgarh on their motorcycle. When they reached Ghulam Banda a truck (No 6425) hit them from behind. As a result, Ghazala died on the spot.

The body was moved to the women and children hospital from where it was handed over to the relatives after autopsy.

The police have registered a case against the absconding truck driver on the complaint of Mr Naveed.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2016