DAWN.COM

Today's Paper | November 28, 2024

Published 06 Oct, 2008 12:00am

MARDAN: Mardan residents warned against aiding militants

MARDAN, Oct 5: The local police have been ordered to shoot militants and warned that people found involved in acts of terror would also suffer the same fate, and their houses would be demolished.

“In this connection, directives have been issued to the police stations in the district,” Deputy Superinten-dent Police (rural) Farid Khan Bangash told media here on Sunday.

He said that the so-called Taliban were killing innocent people and destroying private and public properties in the district, which was neither a service to the religion nor a jehad against the infidels.

The DSP said that following the suicide attack on ANP leader Asfandyar Wali Khan, security was intensified in the district because Mardan was the ‘hub’ of terrorist and militants activities.

After the Charsadda suicide attack, the police have intensified security in the rural areas particularly Bakhshali, Gujarat, Sawaldher, Jamra, Gulibagh, Palo Dheri, Katlang and Rustam, he added.

These villages were the hub of militant activities and in the recent past the militants had targeted police stations and posts. Many police personal lost their lives in encounters with the militants.

An alleged terrorist Kamran was leading the so-called Taliban movement in the region.

Earlier, Mardan police had recovered some 16 rockets from fields at Jamra village and District Police Officer Iqbal Khan claimed that they had foiled a terror plan.

Recently the district administration had launched a peace jirga movement while locals at Qasmi, Alo, Gujrat, Kharki, Choora, Rustam and Sawaldher villages had decided that those who were involved in militancy or provided shelter to terrorists in the area would be punished by the jirga.

IDPs Issue: About 26 families who were displaced from Bajaur Agency and shifted to Gujjar Garhi, Mardan, have complained that they were living in miserable conditions.

While talking to this correspondent at Mahallah Afsarabad and Jandar Par on Sunday, they said that they lacked even potable water in the area.

Elders of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) -- Mohammad Jan, Khan Zarin, Khan Bahadur and Aurangzeb -- said that they fled from the agency following the bombardment and took refuge at Gujjar Garhi.

They said that they took refuge in the houses of relatives and about eight families were residing in one small house along their hosts.

Mr Zarin said that they were suffering at the hands of terrorists and security forces. He added that their children had no education facilities and they had lost an academic year.

They appealed to the concerned authorities and philanthropists to look into the matter and provide them food, shelter and other basic things to survive.

Read Comments

Govt mocks ‘fleeing’ Gandapur, Bushra, claims D-Chowk cleared; PTI derides ‘fake news’ Next Story