Miscreants set houses, orchards ablaze in Diamer

GILGIT: Unknown miscreants set over a dozen houses, including those of a renowned religious scholar in the Diamer valley of Gilgit-Baltistan on Thursday night.

According to sources, the incident occurred in the Sarwan village of Thor area in Diamer district, where unidentified terrorists torched the houses, including those belonging to Sheikhul Hadith Maulana Abdul Qudoos and former Director General of the Mountain Agriculture Research Centre (MARC) Shafiqullah, along with their brothers.

The terrorists also destroyed a traditional flourmill, cowsheds, and orchards, causing widespread destruction and losses to the local residents. Over 100 walnut trees were also cut down, and a large quantity of hay and fodder was set ablaze.

The incident has sent shockwaves across the region, with many terming it a challenge for the law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order in the area. The Diamer valley is home to the under-construction Diamer-Bhasha dam, a strategic project of national importance.

The local community has appealed to the government and law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, bring the perpetrators to justice, and provide compensation to the affected families. They have also demanded that the government take concrete steps to ensure the safety and security of the local population and maintain the rule of law in the region.

A spokesperson for the Gilgit-Baltistan government Faizullah Faraq confirmed the incident, saying that police were investigating the matter from all angles. He added that there were possibilities of an old enmity being the motive behind the incident, as such disputes are quite common in Diamer due to the prevailing tribal system.

In July, terrorist Commander Hameed, who was injured during an operation in the Darel area of Diamer district in Gilgit-Baltistan, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in the Badan locality of the sub-division Darel of Diamer district on July 4, killing terrorist commander Shah Faisal, who was involved in the Hudur Bus Attack. Commander Hameed was injured during the operation.