Intensifying their cross-border attacks, the Afghanistan-based militants took away about 2,500 goats and sheep from the Kalash valley Birir, locals and officials said.
The incident reportedly happened hours after the militants’ attack on Friday in Bamburet valley inhabited by the Kalash minority community.
The Nuristan-based militants had killed two Kalash shepherds in Bamburet valley on Friday and seized over 300 sheep and goats in Karakal border village of Bamburet. This had created fear in the otherwise peaceful area in Chitral.
The locals said dozens of militants from Nuristan province of Afghanistan attacked shepherds in Birir valley and herded away some 2,500 goats and sheep to the neighbouring country.
There are, however, conflicting reports about the number of sheep and goats taken away by the gunmen to Nuristan. According to some reports, the militants drove away some 400 goats and sheep while others said the number was 2,500.
The locals said the shepherds managed to save their lives by taking refuge in a nearby village.
Meanwhile, the funeral ceremony of Noor Ahmad and Khush Wali, the shepherds who were killed in Friday’s attack, was held late last night without any special rituals.
According to the Kalasha traditions, the mourners perform rituals for the dead for three days before they are laid to rest. People from the three Kalash valleys of Rumbur, Birir and Bamburet gather to pay their last respects.
District Police Officer (DPO) Asif Iqbal Mohmand said the first incident happened early Friday morning near the Pak-Afghan border.
He said they have deployed additional 150 personnel including Elite police force to provide protection to the Kalash people.
There is suspicion that the attackers were Pakistani militants based in Nuristan province of Afghanistan. They have undertaken attacks in the Pakistani border areas in the past as well. Three years ago the militants had infiltrated into the Bamburet valley and killed a shepherd belonging to the Kalash community and taken away his 200 goats and sheep.
The attacks have caused fear among the Kalash people, whose total population is 3,000, and their community elders have asked the government to provide them protection. Though the security and law-enforcement agencies personnel are present in Chitral, including the three Kalash valleys in strength, the militants have continued to launch attacks in remote areas close to the Afghan border.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/138948-Afghan-militants-storm-Kalash-Valley-steal-2500-goats-sheep
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