Besar avalanche: Bodies of three missing cops recovered

Personnel were part of team rescuing trapped miners

MANSEHRA: The bodies of three missing elite force officials, who were part of an operation to rescue miners at a basecamp in Besar earlier this week, were recovered on Saturday.

An official of Kaghan police station told The Express Tribune the remains were shifted to Mansehra.

“Sher Muhammad, Anwar, Sardar Nasir, Sajid and Shehzad had been sent to rescue miners whose basecamp in Besar was buried by an avalanche last Sunday,” he said.  “However, snowfall blocked all access routes and the police officials and miners were left stranded. On October 26, a boulder reportedly fell on them.”

Insiders told The Express Tribune, military rescue personnel had saved Sajid, who was injured, and shifted him to Shinkiari earlier this week. The remains of Sher Muhammad was recovered on October 28.

Bad weather conditions slowed the operation to rescue the remaining officials. However, rescue work regained momentum following specific orders from the IGP. The three bodies of the missing cops were found near Batta Kundi.

Their funeral prayers were offered in Mansehra and the bodies were later sent to their native areas for burial.

Pointing fingers

Sardar Safeer, the father of Constable Sardar Nasir, has accused the police for the deaths of the officials.

Speaking to the media in Abbottabad, he said the department left the policemen stranded. He claimed the officials were not provided an adequate supply of ration.

“My son left their post to search for food,” he added. “He met with the tragedy while he was searching for food.”

Safeer said the officials could have been saved if a rescue operation was launched on time. He accused the PTI-led government of poor governance. “It has failed to deliver on its promises of revamping the police system,” he said.

Safeer demanded an enquiry into the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1^st, 2015.