Clashes disrupted tourists’ travel, while some vehicles were reportedly threatened with stone throwing.
CRUSH:
The district administration and Swat police launched legal action after a group of local individuals allegedly stopped tourists from visiting Mahodand Lake in Kalam, an incident which later went viral on social media and raised concerns over the safety of tourists in the major tourist destination of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to authorities, tourists traveling in private roller coasters and tourist vehicles heading to Lake Mahodand were intercepted by local individuals who allegedly insisted that visitors use local transportation services instead.
The clashes disrupted tourists’ travel, while some vehicles were reportedly threatened with stone throwing, forcing several groups to abandon their visit to the lake.
The affected tourists, including students of Sargodha University in Punjab, were unable to complete their trip at Mahodand Lake, one of the most visited tourist attractions in Swat.
Taking immediate notice of the incident, Deputy Commissioner Swat Saleem Jan Marwat directed the district administration, in coordination with District Police Officer (DPO) Swat Umar Gandapur, to initiate legal action against those involved.
An FIR has been registered at Kalam police station against around 30 people under relevant sections of the law, for allegedly blocking tourists and creating fear and harassment.
“Protection of tourists is the top priority of the KP government,” the district administration said in an official statement.
