SWAT: Pelting stones at house in the night has sparked concerns among the residents of Salnda, Manglawar and Charbagh areas of Swat with locals reporting significant property damage and growing psychological distress within their communities.

The incidents, which have escalated over the past week, involve unidentified groups that target residential areas after midnight, according to community representatives, who met with local authorities on Tuesday.

Led by Syed Ahmad Khan, Murad Khan, Fazal Mohammad and Anwar Anjum, the delegation described a pattern of systematic attacks that left people of the areas sleepless and fearful.

“After every midnight, groups of unidentified people begin throwing stones at our village with projectiles that land on roofs and inside homes. The situation has become so worse that some people have resorted to firing in the air in response.” said Syed Ahmad Khan.

DPO announces night patrol and temporary checkpoints in affected areas

He said that the entire community was forced to remain vigilant throughout the night, disrupting daily life and creating an atmosphere of constant anxiety.

The attacks have resulted in substantial property damage, with residents reporting broken windowpanes, damaged solar panels and destruction of other valuable household items. Locals express concerns about financial burden of repair and replacement of the items.

“We have become psychological patients. Our children are terrified,” said Murad Khan, speaking on behalf of affected families. He said that constant ‘bombardment’ of stones not only kept them awake but also created a persistent state of fear among them.

People said that several villages in Matta tehsil were reporting similar incidents. They criticised what they called a delayed response from law enforcement agencies, though local authorities recently pledged to address the issue.

District Police Officer Badshah Hazrat, responding to the concerns of delegation, announced immediate measures to resolve the problem. “I have directed Charbagh police station to deploy additional personnel in the affected areas. Our officers will conduct regular patrols and work to identify and apprehend those responsible for these disruptive activities,” he said.

He said that besides enhanced night patrols, temporary security checkpoints would be set up in the affected areas. Authorities are also calling for community cooperation in identifying perpetrators and reporting suspicious activities.

Local community leaders proposed additional security measures including improved street lighting and surveillance systems. They said that coordinated response of law enforcers and locals could address the issue.

As investigation continues, authorities say that restoring peace and maintaining security in the affected areas are their top priorities. They have advised people experiencing similar incidents or possessing information about the perpetrators to contact Charbagh police station immediately.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2024