LANDI KOTAL, Aug 14: The Lashkar-i-Islam organised a children’s rally in the Bara area of Khyber Agency on Tuesday and observed the Independence Day as ‘black day’ in protest against what they called authorities’ excesses against its supporters.

Carrying black flags, children of supporters of the Lashkar-i-Islam marched through the Bara bazaar, according to witnesses. They demanded action against people involved in the killing of children during clashes in Bara a few months ago. They also demanded release of Lashkar-i-Islam leader Mufti Munir Shakir.

Residents said motorists and shopkeepers in the Bara bazaar, who usually hoisted national flags on cars and buildings on the Independence Day, had put on black flags as a mark of solidarity with the protesting children.

Misri Khan, a leader of the group who led the protest procession, claimed that authorities had forcibly occupied lands of Lashkar men. He urged authorities to remove security forces from offices of the Lashkar-i-Islam and return the occupied property to their owners.

He accused the authorities of supporting their rival organisation. He regretted that the authorities had failed to take action against people involved in the killing of children in the Mandi Kass area a few months ago. “Because of the authorities’ support to our rivals and their failure to take action against the killers of children, we are observing the black day to register our protest against the government’s excesses.”