CHITRAL: Gunmen kidnapped a Greek national from his residence in Kalash valley after killing his guard early on Tuesday morning.
Police said the Greek national (identified only as Athunasius) was sleeping in his room inside the Kalash museum when about 20 masked men broke into the building and whisked him away.
A policeman deployed for his security was killed when he put up resistance.
Mr Athunasius has been living in the valley for 15 years and working on a project for development of the Kalash community. He worked for the construction of a three-storey building to preserve and promote the unique culture of area.
The building also housed a primary school where Mr Athunasius worked as a teacher.
The government had deployed five policemen for his security, but at the time of the incident only two of them were said to be on duty, the others having been sent on leave.
Another teacher of the school, Ajmer Khan Kalash, was also inside the building, who was tied to a pillar by rope.
The valley is adjacent to the Nooristan area of Afghanistan and it is believed that Mr Athunasius has been taken to Nooristan.
The funeral prayer for the slain policeman was offered in the Shahi Masjid ground and he was laid to rest in his village Kosht in upper Chitral.
Chitral’s new DPO Mohammad Jafar Khan and district nazim Maghfirat Shah attended the funeral.
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