PESHAWAR: Teenaged boys being ‘trained’ by militants
By Zulfiqar Ali
PESHAWAR, Nov 18: The residents of the Frontier Region Dara Adamkhel have expressed concern about the future of their school-going children who are allegedly taken to an undisclosed location by a militant group preaching `hatred-based’ education.
According to the information gathered from the tribal area, many boys aged between 13 and 20 are taken for some time to the base camp of the unidentified militant group.
Parents complained that the self-styled champions of morality, who have become active in Dara Adamkhel for the past few months, had taken children from schools and streets to the unknown location.
The parents and community people fear that their children may be motivated for training on subversive activities.
Sources said that the group had focused its attention on schools to collect the children. Recently, two children were picked up from a school in the town.
The boys came back after spending over 20 days at the unknown place.
Locals said that Dara Adamkhel had become a hub of militants' activities and they had established their presence particularly in the villages perched along the rugged mountains.
The militants warned people in some localities against sending their girls to schools and asked barbers not to shave off their customers’ beards. The barbers have put such notices at their shops.
The sources said that the group had increased their activities in four localities -- Bazi Khel, Shiraki, Bosti Khel and Zore Kali -- where they attracted teenaged boys to take them along.
"Unidentified people picked up my nephew, a sixth class student, from his school. He returned home after three weeks," said a tribesman. "We can't challenge the powerful extremists who enjoy all kinds of facilities. Even the local administration condones their training activities," complained a perturbed parent.
"The boy does not tell us much about the activities of his captors. He keeps silent. He has not divulged anything about the mysterious people," he said.
The sources said that the family members of some missing children had even gone to the North and South Waziristan Agencies and other areas in search of their sons.
"I have searched various areas in the North, South Waziristan and Frontier Region Tank to find my child. I have also sought help from militants, but they have refused to share my worries. They asked me to leave the area," said a father.
