CHITRAL, Dec 28: The chairman of Human Rights Programme Chitral (HRPC) Niaz A Niazi advocate has said the year 2012 proved to be the worst for women and children in the district.

He told reporters here on Friday, 15 cases of suicide of women were reported during the year while five women were murdered and 70 were subjected to domestic violence.

He said five children were murdered and two cases of sexual harassment of children were reported.

Mr Niazi claimed many cases of murders of women were presented by the relatives as suicide cases to evade investigations.

He said the year also did not prove good for Kalash, the only minority community residing in the area as the Afghan militants invaded the pasture of Bumburate valley a number of times and herded away about 1,000 goats and killed a shepherd.—Correspondent