Peshawar Police face challenge to check aerial firing on Chand Raat

Thousands campaign against the menace after minor boy loses life

PESHAWAR: Thousands of people are campaigning to bring an end to the practice of aerial firing on "Chand Raat" on the eve of Eidul Fitr and other festive occasions after a minor boy succumbed to his injuries caused by a stray bullet.

Six-year old Noeen Shah, hailing from Risalpur, breathed his last at a hospital late Wednesday night. He had sustained bullet injuries on Sunday and had gone into coma ever since.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police force is facing a tough challenge to stop the practice of aerial firing on "Chand Raat" and other festive occasions.

Though the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police have already launched a campaign against celebratory firing throughout the province, about 25 people were wounded in Peshawar and many in other districts on Sunday when thousands of rounds were fired in the air after Pakistan defeated India in the final match of the Champions Trophy.

The police arrested 66 people in Peshawar while another 49 were rounded up in Mardan. The death of Noeen Shah saddened all and sundry and thousands of people launched a campaign on the social media to raise awareness against the menace.

"This is sheer madness. How can you take the life of someone for your own celebrations? This is inhuman and the police should not tolerate it," said one Imran Ali on Twitter. Meraj Humayun Khan, a member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and chairperson of the Women's Caucus, has hinted at introducing a piece of legislation on aerial firing so that strict punishment could be awarded to those indulging in this practice.

After the tragic death of the boy, the police high-ups called meetings of heads of police stations, declaring that action would be taken against them if they failed to curb aerial firing on "Chand Raat" on the night before Eidul Fitr.

The police in the provincial capital and other districts of the province have launched a campaign in recent weeks to discourage the trend of aerial firing.

Inspector General of Police Salahuddin Khan Mehsud visited Qissa Khwani bazaar and other localities in the provincial capital on Wednesday to seek support of the public and local elders to check aerial firing and other crimes.

Hundreds of people lost their lives or became paralysed after being hit by stray bullets in recent years. "All the officers have been ordered to campaign against aerial firing.

The SHOs have been directed to arrest those indulging in this practice, which endangers the lives of other human beings," Capital City Police Officer Mohammad Tahir told The News. Apart from displaying banners and distributing pamphlets, the station house officers addressed gatherings at mosques, offices and hujras of nazims and elders to create awareness among the people about the dangers of aerial firing.

"It is a menace that poses threat to the lives of other people. The people fire shots in the air without realising that these stray bullets are fatal," said Senior Superintendent of Police Sajjad Khan.

Similar campaigns have been launched in other districts, where the police have placed banners and placards and held meetings with elders to discourage aerial firing. They were told that strict action would be taken against anyone arrested while firing shots in the air.

A special campaign has been launched in Mardan where thousands of rounds are usually fired on "Chand Raat" to celebrate the arrival of Eidul Fitr. "Banners have been displayed and pamphlets distributed. Walks were also held and the people were sensitised during Friday sermons about the menace. Nobody will be allowed to fire shots in the air on Chand Raat," said District Police Officer Mardan Mian Saeed Ahmad.

He added that 49 people had been arrested for aerial firing on Sunday. Walks were also held in Peshawar, Kohat, Lakki Marwat and other districts to raise awareness among the people about the consequences of aerial firing.