PUL-I-KHUMRI (SW): Exchange of fire during a wedding party in the northern Baghlan province has claimed some 20 lives including children, officials said on Monday.
In many parts of the country and the region, men celebrate special occasions by shooting celebratory gun shots in the air that has often led to such deadly consequences. In Baghlan however, initial reports suggest two groups of men got engaged in cross-fire allegedly over a “dancing boy”.
Sultan Mohammad Ibadi, provincial governor confirmed the incident. He said the men fought for hours over dancing boys before the police intervened. Mohibullah Mohaqiq, Deh Salah district chief told SW that two gangsters Juma Khan and Ayub were involved in the incident. He went on to say that the men had old feud among them.
"Bacha Bazi", that literally means "playing with boys" is a slang term in Afghanistan for any activity that involves an adult sexually preying on a child. It includes child pornography, sexual slavery and child prostitution in which prepubescent and adolescent boys are sold to wealthy or powerful men for entertainment and sexual activities.
“No arrests have been made so far but investigations are underway and those responsible would be brought to justice”, Mohaqiqsaid. Some 500 guests were present in the wedding. According to local hospital sources more than 40 people have sustained bullet wounds.
Ironiccaly, this is not the first incident of the sort in the Deh Salah district. Similar incident claimed 12 lives few months back.
ENDS
