LOWER DIR: Residents of Talash Valley have urged senior police authorities to establish a new police station in the valley at Bandagai with four union councils having a total population of about 160,000, citing an overburdened jurisdiction, growing population and delays in emergency response.

In a written statement, retired DPO Mumtaz Zarin, president Talash Dushkhel Qaumi Jirga Dr Noor Muhammad, political activist Sher Muhammad Utmankhel and others said police station Talash currently covers a vast area with multiple police posts at Nasapa, Bandagai, Bagh Pengal and Shagokas and serves a population of around 160,000, making effective policing increasingly difficult.

They said the police station’s jurisdiction spans key link roads including the Katkala Road, Nasapa–Kamangara, Ajo Road, Ziarat Bazaar, Bajauro Barikot, Bandagai Kamrani, Dherai and Pengal Road.

They said that the area comprises four union councils — Shahikhel, Norakhel, Dushkhel and Bandagai, having dozens of towns and villages including Ziarat Talash, Sarai Payee, Sarai Bala, Shamshi Khan, Gumbat, Rehmanabad, Gato and Kano Manri, Dherai, Bajaouro, Barikot, Amlok Dara besides another over 60 smaller localities.

Referring to crime statistics of the past five years, the residents said the heavy caseload had adversely affected timely response and effective law enforcement and argued that the establishment of a new police station at Bandagai would significantly improve policing and public safety.

They added that the proposed police station could be accommodated in the existing Bandagai police post building on the main Chakdara–Timergara Road, which already has adequate infrastructure and manpower and would not require additional burden on the provincial exchequer.

The citizens urged the police department and the provincial government to approve the proposal without delay in the larger public interest.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2026