Five Dead, Many Wounded, A Tragedy in Tirah
A protest over the death of a young girl in Khyber’s Tirah Valley turned tragic on Sunday morning. Locals, grief-stricken and angry, marched toward a Frontier Corps compound. What began as a peaceful Tirah Valley protest quickly spiraled into chaos, and within hours, at least five people were killed, six according to some sources, with dozens more injured. The incident quickly became the latest news, drawing national attention and concern.
Grief and Agitation in Peer Mela
Villagers said the girl had died in what they believed to be a mortar strike in Peer Mela’s Darbar locality. They carried her body early Sunday to the gates of the Brigade Headquarters in Bagh‑Maidan Markaz. But calls by tribal elders to stay calm were largely ignored.
From Mourning to Chaos
Once they reached the gates, the mood changed. A group of mostly young men set fire to an excavator parked outside. Then they tried to force the main gate. That’s when security forces opened fire. Eyewitnesses recounted sounds of gunshots and people running for cover. Videos online show smoke and panic, some running as shots ring out. By the end, at least six were dead and seventeen or more wounded. Some injured were later shifted to hospitals in Peshawar and Jamrud. One remains in critical condition.
Jirga Intervenes as Tensions Flare
Soon after, a delegation of Tirah elders met security officials. A local sector commander sat down with tribal leaders. And as a result, the Tirah Valley protest began to ease, at least for the moment. Officials pledged full support and committed to meet their legitimate demands. Compensation was promised for victims and free medical treatment for the injured.
Government Promises Compensation
The provincial government expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life. Under an official scheme, families of the deceased will receive ten million rupees and injured persons two‑and‑a‑half million rupees each. Civil and military institutions have been told to improve public communication and preserve peace in the valley.
Protests Continue Locally and Politically
Later, Iqbal Afridi and Abdul Ghani, area representatives, held a protest at Bab‑i‑Khyber in Jamrud. They demanded a transparent judicial inquiry and opposed further military operations in Tirah. They urged peace without displacing local people.
At the same time residents in nearby villages claim mortar shelling by security forces in recent days has killed at least three people. Areas targeted include Zakhakhel, Shalobar, Adakhel, and Malakdin Khel.
Security Forces Pay a Price Too
On the same morning as the Tirah Valley protest, two Chitral Scouts were martyred during a separate clash with militants near the Afghan border. Several other personnel were injured as the militants retreated, said official sources.
