Sectarian attacks: A day after, Gilgit town bears a deserted look

Markets remain partially closed in wake of policeman’s killing.

GILGIT:

An eerie calm descended upon Gilgit town on Monday after a shutter-down strike was announced to protest the killing of two men including a police official in sectarian attacks a day earlier.

Constables Sher Bahadur and Muhammad Bilal were attacked by armed men in Sakwar area on Sunday as they were heading to a police training centre. Sher Bahadur succumbed to his injuries at a hospital while Bilal’s condition is now said to be stable. A civilian, Sakhi, was shot and injured in the same area half an hour later. He too died of his wounds at the hospital.

“Obviously the attacks on the policemen and the civilian were sectarian,” said SSP Ali Zia, adding “this violence seems to be part of the recent wave that has gripped the country.” Though no arrests have been made so far, Zia said investigation is underway to ensure the perpetrators are caught soon.

Funeral prayers for Sher Bahadur were offered at Police Lines early Monday morning, while the body of Sakhi was shifted to his ancestral valley of Ghizer for burial.

A shutter-down strike was observed on the call of Tanzim Ahle Sunnat Waljamat’s Gilgit-Baltistan chapter to protest the killing of Constable Bahadur. Shopping markets in the town remained partially closed and attendance in schools and offices was also low. Police personnel dotted the streets to avoid any untoward incidents.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2013.