Alarm bells: Kalash residents panic as militants reappear

CHITRAL:

Residents of Kalash were panic-stricken on Saturday evening after shepherds of the community spotted suspected militants in Pakistani territory.

Muhammad Ijaz, an official at Bamboret police check post said that on Sunday morning three shepherds along with residents of Bamboret valley came to the police check post and reported they had spotted around 20 militants who had crossed the border from Afghanistan and entered their pastures.

Ijaz added the residents were panicked because they assumed the militants would attack their land and take away their animals like they did last year.

The police official said he informed his seniors who passed the information along to the security forces and Chitral Scouts.  The forces arrived on Sunday afternoon and launched a search operation, however no arrests were made.

“Security in the valley has been tightened and police has told the residents not to be fearful,” Ijaz said.

Last year, dozens of militants crossed into Pakistani territory in Kalash valley and attacked the Dobazha pastures, stole goats and sheep and killed a  shepherd.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22^nd, 2013.