ISLAMABAD – Police on Sunday killed the mastermind behind the brazen arsonattacks targeting 14 schools, mostly all-girls’, in the Gilgit-Baltistanregion.
The schools were burnt down over a period of two days in coordinatedattacks in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamer district, triggering protest by localresidents who sought safety for educational institutions.
“The prime suspect believed to be responsible for the torching of 14 girls’schools over a period of two days in Gilgit-Baltistan’s was killed during asearch operation in the Tanger area today,” Diamer Police SpokespersonMuhammad Wakeel said.
Shafiq – who has no known association with any militant or terroristoutfit, but is referred to as a ‘militant’ and ‘militant commander’ bypolice officials – was the prime suspect behind the brazen arson attackstargeting girls’ schools in the Chilas, Darel and Tanger tehsils of Diamerdistrict.
Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Faizullah said that 10 to 12police parties carried out raids in various parts of Diamer last night totrack down those responsible for the arson attacks.
A police constable was killed and another wounded in a gun battle witharmed suspects during a late night raid in Tanger yesterday. So far 18suspects have been arrested for the torching of the schools.
Wakeel said that the militants in Tanger were attempting to flee the areabut locals surrounded them.
A civilian was injured and at least three to four others were injured inexchange of fire between police and the militants during the operations,the paper said.