MANSEHRA: Thousands of tourists, who had been stranded in Kaghan valley, left for their respective destinations after the police managed to disperse the protesters at Naran in the wee hours of Friday.
The police contingents led by District Police Officer Asif Bahadur fired tear gas shells to disperse protesters to clear the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road and around a dozen of them were also taken into custody. The protesters, who had blocked the road in Naran a day earlier, were warned by both deputy commissioner and district police officers to vacate the road. “And the police had no other option but to use force to clear the road,” said an official.
According to eyewitnesses, officials of the various departments removed tented and prefabricated structures erected at the entrance to the Naran. Commissioner, Hazara Division, Riaz Mehsud and deputy inspector general of police Mirvais Niaz oversaw the entire operation staying in Naran after two policemen, including a DSP, were injured on Thursday.
Around four 400 police personnel have been deployed in the Naran to maintain law and order and to ensure that the anti-encroachment operation continues on the main road and alongside Kunhar River to restore the natural beauty of the valley.
“We cannot compromise on our targets set in pursuance of the Prime Minister’s Imran Khan clean and green vision as encroachments causing environmental pollution and plaguing its natural essence,” said Deputy Commissioner Dr Qasim.
