GILGIT: A temporary check-post in Saingal village of Ghizer district was torched on Sunday night by suspected militants who escaped after snatching ammunition from security personnel.

According to sources, 12 attackers opened fire on a contingent of police deployed at the check-post situated 50km away from Gahkuch, the district headquarters of Ghizer, before setting the post alight.

Following an exchange of fire with security officials, the militants managed to escape to Diamer with the ammunition they had snatched from two personnel.

No casualty was reported.

The militants, the sources said, had attempted to enter Ghizer district through Saingal nallah, a path suspects involved in terrorist activities often use to escape.

Over a dozen nullahs from Ghizer and Gilgit lead to Diamer district.

The police contingent are residents of Diamer and hired on a seasonal basis and paid a nominal salary (Rs 8,000). Their job is to ward off robbers who steal locals’ livestock every now and then. In the past, attackers have also abducted girls in this area.

According to a local reporter, temporary police check-posts are mere tarp tents that are only a few feet high.

So far this month, 14 schools — half of which were girls-only centres — have been burned down in Diamer by unidentified assailants; three police officials have been killed near Kargah nullah and the house of Diamer’s Deputy Commissioner has been attacked.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2018