Peshawar – In the Rashid Garhi area of Peshawar, a dispute over comments on a TikTok video escalated into a deadly shootout, resulting in the deaths of three individuals and injuries to five others. The Yakatoot Police Station has reported the arrest of 14 suspects involved in the incident.
The conflict began when Amin Khan, a resident of Rashid Garhi, left an emoji comment on a TikTok video posted by Ali, also known as Sheena. Offended by the comment, Ali, along with his associates, angrily confronted Amin at his home on Friday around 2:30 PM. This confrontation quickly turned violent, leading to an exchange of gunfire between Amin's brother, Hamid, and Ali's group. Hamid was injured in the shooting, while Amin narrowly escaped harm.
According to Amin's report to the police, bystanders were also injured in the crossfire. Tragically, Hamid succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the hospital.
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Footage from the TikTok video shows several young men lip-syncing to provocative and aggressive dialogues, with commenters sharing various emojis. SP City Zafar Ahmed Khan confirmed that the fight broke out over these emoji comments, leading to the fatal shooting. Both parties, who were previously acquainted and had no prior enmity, were provoked by the online interaction.
The incident highlights a growing trend in Peshawar, where murder rates have increased compared to the previous year. Police statistics reveal that 231 murders occurred last year, with 219 recorded in just the first six months of this year.
Analysts attribute the rise in social crimes to factors such as institutional negligence in addressing criminal activities, lack of tolerance, poor economic conditions, unemployment, and limited education.
Senior journalist Syed Shah Raza emphasized the need for responsible social media use and swift action against those sharing negative content. "Social media is a vital information source, but misuse due to lack of awareness among the youth leads to such tragedies. Relevant authorities, like the FIA, must act against those spreading harmful material to prevent further incidents," Raza stated.
The Yakatoot Police have claimed to have arrested 14 suspects along with their weapons and are utilizing CCTV footage to aid in the ongoing investigation.
