SWABI, March 3: A man killed his two nephews over ownership of a tree in a disputed piece of land in Razaar tehsil here on Sunday, police said.

They said that the incident occurred in Sikandary village, a far-flung area of Razaar.

They said that the accused, Rahim Dil, had a land dispute with his nephews, Sajid Khan and Rafaqat Ali, both brothers.

Residents said that Mr Dil and his nephews were working in their fields when they started quarrelling over ownership of a tree. The dispute led to killing of Sajid and Rafaqat on the spot, while the accused escaped.

The Kalu Khan police have registered a case against Mr Dil.

TOBACCO CULTIVATION: Tobacco growers here have started plantation of tobacco crop despite their leaders` campaign to discourage its cultivation this current year in protest against exploitative tactics of the buyer companies.

The growers told this correspondent on Sunday that there was no industry in the district and the only source of their livelihood was the tobacco crop.

`Our family has been cultivating the flue-cured virginia (FCV) tobacco for last five decades. This is our only source of cash income. If wegive up tobacco growing, we would be left with no source of livelihood,` said Mohammad Sardar of Maneri Bala.

The growers said that they knew tobacco companies had been exploiting them, but still something was better than nothing. They said that their whole year`s expenditures and other needs were linked with tobacco production.

Rahim Dad of Naro Banda said that the buyers were responsible for their weak financial position.

Kashthkar Coordination Council (KCC) ran a fullpledged campaign against tobacco cultivation following their tussle with multinational companies and Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB) over the cost of production.

The expenses from fuel to food and wages for labourers had increased manifold, the KCC leaders said and claimed that the PTB, buying companies and federal ministry for commerce were still in league to exploit the growers.

`Our cost of production is Rs240 per kilogramme for 2013. Crop commissioner Dr Aslam has proposed Rs183.3 per kg cost last year. In contrast, the PTB has set tobacco price at Rs141 per kg. We opposed it and ran a full-fledged campaign against the companies,` said KCC general secretary Liaqat Yusufzai.