People capture scene of explosion at the house where police and security forces killed five militants. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Despite the fact that an intelligence based operation was underway against militants in Hayatabad area, where five militants were killed after 17-hours of operation, local residents never panicked.
People from the nearby houses, unfazed by the crackle of gunfire, gathered within the operation zone with many holding their cell phones and recording videos and sharing it on social media websites.
“Sorry, I am not from Hayatabad. I am going home from college and just came here to see what is happening, since we heard a military operation is underway against the militants,” said an 18-year old college student, who refused to talk to the media but seemed interested to know about developments into the 17-hours long operation against militants.
Although there are many examples of how residents of Peshawar have been responding to terror incidents.
From carrying and transporting injured persons and bodies to hospitals in their own private vehicles to making queues for donating blood to terror attack victims during last 12 to 15 years, Peshawar’s residents seemed least panicked except for women and children stranded in the nearby houses.
With many holding their cell phones recording videos and some sharing the deafening sounds of explosions live on social media, residents seemed least bothered by the presence of militants in their neighbourhood.
They however wanted the military to conclude the operation as soon as possible since the area had been cordoned off for over 16 hours since many women and children besides aged were stranded in the nearby houses. They however were later rescued by the forces and police personnel shifting them to safer places.
Besides, routine life was also undisturbed as children could be seen starring at media personnel from inside their school busses as the nearby schools remained open for their daily activities despite the fact that an operation, and that too led by the military’s top group, Special Services Group, was underway in the same area.
Five terrorists were killed during a 17-hours long operation against militants in Hayatabad area of the provincial capital. One officer of K-P police, ASI Qamar Alam of Anti-Terrorist Squad embraced martyrdom.
The operation was carried out on the basis of an intelligence tip-off regarding the presence of terrorists in the three-story residential building and security forces faced stiff resistance from the occupants earlier when they tried to enter the property.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2019.
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