Four road workers abducted by armed men in Tirah valley

KHYBER: Four workers engaged in road construction were abducted by armed men in the Peer Mela area of Tirah valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday, according to local sources.

The abducted men included two excavator operators and two labourers who were busy levelling land for the construction of a link road when gunmen took them away at gunpoint, the sources said. They added that the workers were shifted to an undisclosed location after the abduction.

According to the same sources, three of the four kidnapped workers are residents of Balochistan.

Security forces launched a search operation in the area and adjoining localities following the incident, local sources said.

After the abduction, local elders called for effective security arrangements for people working on development schemes in the area. They warned that incidents of this nature could affect ongoing development work in Tirah valley.

Security concerns raised in Bara

Separately, a peace council of the Akkakhel tribe was held in Bara tehsil of Khyber district, where participants voiced concern over the worsening security situation in the area.

Members of the council told Dawn that the meeting expressed deep concern over the deteriorating law and order situation and demanded immediate steps to address it.

The council members said the gathering stressed that law enforcement agencies should take practical measures to protect the lives and property of residents and ensure peace in the region.

The meeting also called for a relief package for internally displaced families of the Akkakhel tribe to compensate them for their losses, according to council members.

The abduction in Tirah and the concerns raised at the Akkakhel peace council both reflect the security challenges being highlighted by local communities in Khyber district, particularly in areas where development activity is underway and where residents say stronger protection is needed.

Local elders demanded foolproof security for construction workers after the incident, pointing out that such occurrences could jeopardise the ongoing development projects in the area.

No further official details were provided in the report about the identity of the abductors or the whereabouts of the kidnapped workers.