LAKKI MARWAT: Elders on Sunday banned holding Kabaddi tournaments in Baistkhel union council after two persons were killed in an exchange of fire at a match in Harama Tala locality on Saturday.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by village council nazim Rozi Khan.

The participants expressed grief over the killings, saying sporting events were organised to promote peace and not to shed blood.

“No one will be allowed to hold Kabaddi tournaments in the area in future,” said Rozi Khan, making clear that the violators would be handed over to police.

“The violators will also face punishments as per local customs,” he maintained.

Rozi Khan said besides displaying weapons the local people, especially rival groups, also took advantage of such events to target opponents.

He said the local elders would soon meet the district administration officials to implement ban on holding Kabaddi tournaments.

On Saturday, two persons identified as Afsar Khan and Farman were killed when rival groups exchanged fire over an old enmity at a Kabaddi match in Harama Tala, police and witnesses said. They said the firing panicked the spectators who ran for cover.

Kabaddi is a popular traditional game in the backward district. Local sports organisations and sports lovers hold tournaments in open areas attracting a large number of people from across the district.

Witnesses said the Kabaddi match between local teams was stopped while a crowd watching the game dispersed after the firing incident.

Police said they registered separate cases against the killers from both the groups under relevant sections of law in Tajori police station and began investigation.

BOY SCOUTS: A contingent of boy scouts of government-run schools of the district reached Abbottabad to participate in a weeklong training activity.

Led by deputy district education officer Mohammad Sheraz, and district scout secretary Nisar Mohammad Khan, the boy scouts will attend training camp at provincial scouts training and programme centre.

A group of scout leaders is also accompanying the scout contingent.

Before leaving for Abbottabad, Mr Sheraz told reporters that participation of so many boy scouts in training camp indicated that scouting activities were regularly conducted in public sector schools in Lakki.

He said effective role played by the district boy scouts association had helped revive the scouting in schools.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2016