SWAT – A fierce gun battle broke out on Wednesday between Swat police and suspected militants affiliated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the remote mountainous area of Dop Sar, located in the Gwalerai region of Matta tehsil.
During the exchange of fire, a civilian identified as Jahan Baha from Upper Dir was killed, while a police constable, Sahibzada, sustained critical injuries.
In the days leading up to the clash, residents of Gwalerai and nearby villages had taken to social media to voice concerns over unusual movements of armed individuals in the surrounding hills and even within populated areas. Locals warned of the possible re-emergence of militant elements and urged authorities to act swiftly.
Responding to the warnings, Swat police deployed a large force to the affected area, confirmed police spokesperson Moin Fayaz. Regional Police Officer (RPO) Malakand, Sher Akbar, visited the site, conducted a comprehensive review of the situation, and issued directives to ground personnel. He was accompanied by Swat District Police Officer Mohammad Umar Khan.
“We have more than 7,000 police personnel in Swat, equipped with modern weaponry. The force is fully capable of confronting and eliminating terrorist threats without requiring army support,” RPO Akbar stated. “Our teams are on high alert and remain deployed in the region.”
Swat, a district still marked by the trauma of Taliban rule from 2007 to 2009, has seen renewed concerns in recent years. In 2022, under the PTI-led government, reports emerged that fugitive militants were being allowed to cross back into the region from Afghanistan, triggering widespread alarm.
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“The news sparked mass public anger and led to the formation of Swat Olasi Pasoon (Swat Public Uprising),” said local activist Sajid Aman. He recalled how thousands of citizens joined protests and sit-ins demanding decisive state action to prevent a resurgence of terrorism.
In a renewed display of public defiance and demand for peace, students from Saidu Medical College held a peace march on Wednesday. They were joined by students from Jahanzeb College, other educational institutions, and civil society members.
Marchers carried banners and placards with peace slogans, calling on the government to ensure lasting peace not just in Swat, but across the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.