GILGIT: Residents of Dahimal and surrounding villages kept the Gilgit-Shandur Road blocked on Tuesday and Wednesday against the murder of a schoolteacher in Ghizer district of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Niat Amin, 28, a resident of Gupis Valley and a teacher at Hamaran Bathrait Government School being run by Shining Light Community Development Organisation, was murdered on Tuesday by unknown people when he was on his way home from school with his sister on his motorbike.

The alleged murderers reportedly took away his motorcycle but later abandoned it at a deserted place.

Police have registered a case and launched a search for the culprits.

Carrying the coffin of the teacher, protesters said several tragic incidents had been reported in Bathrait area but police and law enforcement officials had failed to solve a single murder case.

They said despite the fact that police were immediately informed about the incident they came to the crime scene after almost six hours.

The protesters demanded action against the culprits involved in the murder and deployment of GB Scouts in Bathrait Nullah.

Addressing the protesters, former GB minister Fida Khan Fida and others said so far 21 people had been killed in Bathrait Nullah area and not a single culprit had been arrested.

Later, the protesters dispersed after DIG Gilgit Range Mirza Hasan assured them that the assassins would be brought to justice.

The protesters gave a 24-hour deadline for the arrest of the culprits and setting up of a GB Scouts post in Bathrait Nullah area.

The students of Hamaran Bathrait Government School also staged a protest.

Meanwhile, GB Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan directed the inspector general of police to conduct a transparent investigation into the incident and immediately arrest the killers.

The chief minister termed the incident a brutal and reprehensible act and said those involved in the incident would soon be arrested and brought to justice.

The chief minister expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family members of the deceased teacher and prayed to Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2023