UPPER DIR: The earthquake victims from various union councils continued their march on Dir against denial of compensation despite snowfall and downpour on Wednesday.

Earlier, the protesters held talks with Sheringal assistant commissioner over house compensation but they didn’t succeed.

The calamity-hit people from Thal, Kalkot, Brikot, Gowaldi, Patrak, Doog Dara and other areas in the district had begun the march on Dir from Kalkot on Tuesday over non-payment of compensation for damaged houses.

In Sheringal, the newly-appointed assistant commissioner, Farooq Khan, spoke to protesters in a bid to pacify them, but to no avail. Afterwards, protesters resumed the march on Dir despite snowfall and rain.

Say protest will continue until given compensation for damaged houses

The protester leaders, including Malik Ghafar and Malik Shakirullah, said they would set their agenda after reaching Dir.

They said the protesters would set up a hunger strike camp outside the deputy commissioner’s offices until their demands were met.

The protester leaders alleged that the compensation was distributed to undeserving people to the discrimination of the genuine earthquake victims.

TWO KILLED: Two people were killed and 13 suffered injuries in two separate incidents in Upper Dir district on Wednesday.

In Rabyal area of Nehag Dara, a man was killed during an exchange of fire between two groups over a land dispute.

The clash left two people critically injured.

The injured were shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Wari.In the other incident, a man was killed and 10 suffered injuries when a passenger vehicle fell into a deep ravine in Brikot area of Dobando Dara.

The witnesses said the vehicle had skidded off the road due to heavy snowfall.

The injured were shifted to the DHQ Hospital, Dir, where the doctors declared the condition of the injured out of danger.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2016