Investigators’ murder: 14 suspects in Chilas incident rounded up

The police believe certain locals are used by the banned militant outfits.

GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) police arrested 14 suspects on Wednesday – a day after militants shot dead three security officials in Chilas.

“Investigations are underway and 14 suspects have been detained for interrogation,” said Deputy Inspector General (DIG) police Ali Sher, who is leading investigations in Chilas.

Those arrested are residents of Diamer valley.  The police believe certain locals must have played in the hands of banned militant outfits carrying out similar activities elsewhere.



The DIG said security on the Karakoram Highway (KKH0) had been stepped up as a precautionary measure.

Militants ambushed a vehicle in Chilas district early Tuesday, killing Superintendent Police (SP) Hilal Ahmed, Colonel Ghulam Mustafa and Captain Ashfaq Aziz – security officials investigating the high profile murder of 10 foreign tourists at base camp of the Nanga Parbat.

Investigators said the administration had initiated in Chilas an extensive search operation in which hundreds of police and paramilitary forces had taken part.

The army is also closely monitoring the situation. On Wednesday, the G-B force commander and chief secretary also flew from Gilgit to Chilas to examine the progress achieved so far in the case.

The G-B Chief Minister (CM) Mehdi Shah convened cabinet meeting to discuss law and order situation in the region.

“In the meeting, the CM directed to establish the identities of nonlocal before allowing them to enter the region,” said Sajjad, an official in the chief minister office.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2013.