ISLAMABAD: After the killing of at least five people in a firing incident on Thursday evening in Gilgit, the government of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) has issued a red alert across the region amidst fear of sectarian violence.
In the security alert issued by the home department, the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) are directed to take necessary steps to maintain law and order and to untoward incidents any further.
The LEAs are further directed to stay alert across GB and maintain an emergency readiness state until further notice. The LEAs have also been directed to ensure the safety of public buildings and sensitive installations.
According to sources, the situation in the headquarters of GB was tense following the incident and protest of the bereaved families and their supporters. Since the protestors have also joined sectarian groups, a sectarian rift is feared in the highly sensitive city. In the past, Gilgit has been hit by sectarian clashes.
On Thursday evening at least five people were killed and seven were injured when a passenger coach came under fire. Police said the passenger vehicle was on its way from Gilgit to Niltar Bala (Upper Naltar) when it was fired upon at the RC bridge by unidentified suspects.
The injured were shifted to the Gilgit Hospital for treatment, said police. The five deceased all hailed from Niltar Bala, where the passenger vehicle was travelling to.
Officials have arrived at the scene and have started gathering evidence for an investigation into the crime.
Though the causes of this incident are yet to be known, residents of the area doubt that this incident could be a retaliatory attack of an earlier incident in which two young men died after coming under attack from a group in Naltar Valley of Gilgit district.
The aforementioned incident had taken place in the upper reaches of Naltar valley after a group of picnickers from Lower Naltar were attacked. As a result of the armed attack two youths, Muzamil and Farjad Hussain sustained injuries. Moreover, a person named Farjad Hussain died while being evacuated. Later, Saleem Abbas had also succumbed to the injuries at Provincial Headquarter Hospital, Gilgit.
Locals had also reported that the two groups clashed because the picnickers from Lower Naltar were playing music in front of a mosque.
Residents of the two villages – Upper and Lower Naltar – have also been involved in a land dispute, with both villages claiming ownership of the lakes and pastures. The attackers were, allegedly, led by Kareem Gujar, a resident of Upper Naltar village.
According to the locals, those who have been killed and injured in the attack on Thursday were from Upper Naltar village. This is why they doubt that the incident could be a retaliation for the earlier incident that happened in May 2020.
Taking “strong notice” of the incident, the GB Chief Minister Khalid Khursheed has directed the inspector general of police to deploy forces in the area and ensure law and order through “indiscriminate action” against the culprit(s).
Such incidents could hurt tourism industry in the area. Naltar is about 34 kilometres (21 mi) from Gilgit. The valley is a forested region known for its dramatic mountain scenery. Naltar valley is also famous for the three lakes i.e., are Strangi lake, Blue lake and Bodlok lake.
