CHITRAL, Aug 25: The fear of intrusion of gangsters from Nuristan province of Afghanistan has forced the Kalash people to herd their cattle back from a bordering pasture before the scheduled return.

The people of all the three Kalash valleys, Bumburate, Birir and Rumbur, and the village of Ayun, let their cattle freely graze in the pasture which borders Nuristan province of Afghanistan.

The repeated intrusions of Afghan gangsters into the pasture and taking away of the cattle heads into Afghanistan has led the people to take the cattle back to the valley while they used to do by early November.

The pasture of Bumburate had been ransacked twice during the month of Ramazan with intruders taking with them as many as seven hundred goats and a shepherd who was later found slaughtered.

Raising goats is one of the components of Kalash economy and the recent incidents will inflict a huge loss on their economy, some Kalash elders feared.

MAN SEEKS PROTECTION: A resident of Begusht village of Garam Chashma valley and a retired junior commissioned officer of the army, Islamuddin, has demanded of the government to provide him protection against the local gangsters who ransacked his house.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, he said on the night of August 22, a former councillor Nawab Khan and his accomplices attacked him with the intention to kill him. And after failing to do so, he said, they looted his household articles.

He alleged the assailants continued their attack on him till it was dawn and he successfully warded them off with the help of his wife and children.

He alleged it was the third attempt on his life by the former councillor and his cohorts who were bent upon evicting him from his home.

Mr Islamuddin also alleged the local MNA Shahzada Mohiuddin was providing protection to the accused due to which the local police were not taking any action against them.