By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
KHYBER: At least three people were killed and eight others sustained injuries when security forces allegedly opened fire on protesters outside the Bagh Brigade Headquarters in Tirah Valley in district Khyber on Sunday.
According to local sources, the protest was triggered by an incident a day earlier in the Zakhakhel area, where a mortar shell explosion resulted in the death of a minor girl, the daughter of a resident named Ajmal Khan. In response to the incident, residents staged a protest with the body at the Momand Ghuz security checkpoint. The protest later expanded to the main brigade headquarters in Bagh.
Witnesses said the situation turned violent when some protesters began pelting stones at the military installation. In retaliation, security forces reportedly opened fire to disperse the crowd. As a result, three protesters were killed on the spot and eight others were injured. The injured were immediately shifted to Peshawar hospitals for medical treatment.
Following the incident, a tense atmosphere prevailed in the area. Security forces increased deployment, and the entry and exit points of the region were reportedly being monitored strictly. No official statement had been issued by the district administration or law enforcement agencies until the filing of this report.
Tirah Valley, situated in the Khyber tribal district along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, has long been considered a strategically important but volatile area. The region has witnessed multiple military operations over the years to eliminate militant hideouts. Although large-scale operations reduced the influence of militant groups, the area continues to face sporadic incidents of violence, with residents frequently expressing concerns over insecurity, displacement, and lack of basic services.
Authorities were making efforts to bring the situation under control and prevent further escalation as residents continued to express anger over the recent developments.
