MANSEHRA: A boy and a girl drowned in the Kunhar River in Naran area of Kaghan valley after a plank of the wooden bridge they stood on gave way on Wednesday.

The deceased, including Mohammad Javed, 18, and Momina, 11, were cousins.

Spokesman for Rescue 1122 Amir Kadam told reporters that the organisation’s divers had recovered the girl’s body, while search for the boy’s was under way.

He said the incident occurred when the two were crossing the river.

PROTECTION DEMANDED: The transgender community has demanded an end to violence and excesses against them.

The demand was made during a meeting of the Awaz District Forum formed by NGO Saibaan Development Organisation here on Wednesday.

The participants highlighted the issues of women, transgender persons, minorities, and people with disabilities in Mansehra, Balakot and Baffa-Pakhal tehsils.

Transgender persons Mari Khan, Nadra Khan and Gul Gi complained about excesses by society as a whole against their community.

Nadra said four members of her community were killed by own relations recently after they demanded the return of borrowed money.

She said the province recorded the death of over 72 transgender persons due to the failure of police and society at large to protect them.

The participants also highlighted issues of sexual harassment, child labour, inheritance and those facing minorities in the district.

Forum coordinator Rafique Abbasi said 27 village forums had been formed in Mansehra, Balakot and Baffa-Pakhal tehsils to take up the people’s issues for resolution and refer those out of their domain to the district forum.

Former MPA Sajida Tabassum said many women were denied the right to inheritance in the district, so the forum would provide free legal support to such women.

Mohammad Zahoor said different committees were also formed to highlight the issues of women, transgender persons, minorities, and people with disabilities.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2021