KHYBER: Unidentified gunmen killed the son of a tribal elder in Bara on Saturday, the police said.

Officials said that the incident took place in Qambarabad locality near the Bara Bazaar. They said that unknown assailants targeted Jan Bar, son of a tribal elder from Shalobar tribe in Tirah Valley. He died on the spot.

They said that the deceased had come from his native village of Donga Kalay in the Maidan area of Tirah to Bara on a personal visit.

Reason behind his killing was stated to be a longstanding family feud, police said and added that they had started investigations into the incident.

STONE CRUSHING UNITS CLOSED: Authorities closed nearly 50 stone crushing plants over growing public criticism as the Peshawar High Court has ordered their closure and shifting them out of populated areas.

Officials said that all the units were issued prior notices to shift away from residential areas, but to no avail, prompting the action.

They said that residents of Takhta Baig in particular had long been demanding that the stone crushing units should be relocated as a sizable number of residents had contracted respiratory ailments due to excessive dust.

Officials said the authorities had identified at least two comparatively safe locations in Sapari and Kafar Tangi areas for the operations of the crushing plants.

Meanwhile, owners of stone crushing units on Saturday demanded their relocation should be delayed till proper facilities were provided in the Sapari and Kafar Tangi areas.

Addressing a press conference, they contended that these plants provided a living to hundreds of local people, who were mostly poor.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2025