Taliban-related militancy is on the rise in Nowshera district of NWFP as music shop owners and private educational institutions having the co-education system are receiving threatening phone calls and letters.Home to three cantonments of Nowshera, Risalpur and Cherat, Nowshera is reckoned among the most peaceful and developed areas in the NWFP. However, the district, bordering with the restive Darra Adam Khel area, has been witnessing terror activities since late 2007. The blowing up of a second CD shop in the Ziarat Kaka Sahib in less than a month has triggered a wave of panic among locals who complain about increasing Taliban activities in nearby hills.
Militants blew up a CD shop in the bus stand area of Ziarat Kaka Sahib on May 31. A similar explosion occurred at a cassette shop in Kaka SahibÂ’s main market on May 6. The shop owner, Shah Sawar, had received threatening letters asking him to wind up his business, locals said.
Local journalist Sohail Kakakhail told Daily Times that Taliban activity had also been reported from a nearby Bahadur Khel village.
No Taliban: Nowshera District Police Officer Yameen Khan, however, ruled out the presence of Taliban in the area. He said that a special investigation team had been formed to investigate blasts at CD shops in Ziarat Kaka Sahib. About the deployment of the Frontier Constabulary in some areas, he said it was meant to improve the security situation.
Residents said threatening letters were also sent to a school in Kaka Sahib, being run by the WorkersÂ’ Welfare Board. An official at the school said threatening letters and telephone calls were received a few months back. He said the caller told the school administration to ask its female staffers to wear veils and make separate arrangements for male and female students.
The official said that school Principal Col (r) Rashid called police and investigation was launched, but no progress was made. Militant activities have also been reported in the area in the past.