By Muhammad Younas :
TIRAH VALLEY, KHYBER DISTRICT — A peaceful protest demanding justice for a young girl killed in alleged mortar shelling turned into a scene of chaos and bloodshed on Saturday, leaving at least Five people dead and over seventeen injured.
The protest took place outside the Bagh Brigade headquarters in the volatile Tirah Valley, where residents had gathered to condemn the killing of a child in the Momand Ghwaz area just a day earlier. Locals say the girl, who was reportedly playing outside her home, died when a mortar shell — allegedly fired by security forces — struck her village.
The girl’s death sparked outrage across the valley, where civilians have long endured the toll of ongoing conflict and militarization. On the day of the protest, residents assembled with placards and slogans, demanding accountability and justice.
What began as a sorrowful, silent demonstration quickly escalated. Eyewitnesses reported that a group of protestors set a security vehicle and nearby buildings on fire as emotions flared. Tensions peaked when demonstrators approached the entrance of the military installation. It was then, according to several witnesses, that security forces opened fire on the crowd.
Panic erupted. Protesters scattered amid the gunfire, some crying out for help, others dragging the wounded to safety. In moments, a peaceful call for justice had transformed into a deadly confrontation. Many who came to mourn a child’s death ended the day mourning brothers, neighbors, and friends.
The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, but local healthcare facilities — severely under-equipped — struggled to cope. Hospital corridors overflowed with distraught families. Mothers wept beside bloodied sons. Volunteers battled to bring order amid chaos.
No official statement has been issued by security forces regarding the incident at the time of this report. The silence has deepened public frustration and fear in a region already worn down by years of violence, displacement, and neglect.
Local elders and human rights activists have called for an independent inquiry into the incident and urgent steps to prevent further escalation. “We raised our voice for a little girl, and they answered with bullets,” said one elder, who lost his nephew during the protest. “How much more do they expect us to bear?”
For the people of Tirah Valley, the tragedy is not an isolated event — it is part of a painful pattern. Once again, a community finds itself burying its dead, not because of war, but because it dared to demand justice.
