Greek Volunteer released from Taliban Posses.
CHITRAL: The Greek Volunteer Professor Athanasios Lerounis, was released on Wednesday from Pak Afghan Border area Nooristan. District Coordination Officer Chitral (DCO) Rahmatullah Wazir confirmed the releasing of Greek social worker Professor (Engineer) Athanasios Lerounis. He said that law enforcement agencies and elites of border Area plaid vital role in his releasing. He denied of any type of payment regarding ransom to Taliban. Hence independent sources told that Government of Pakistan has released Maulana Rahmatuddin a Taliban leader belongs to Nooristan area and have paid some 5 million rupees hence district administration denied any payment to Taliban and they termed it on good faith and good relation with neighbors living in Nooristan Afghanistan. Mr. Athanasios Lerounis, was head of Greek Teachers Association a non Government Organization (NGO) of Greek who donating fund for construction of Kalasha Dur ( Museum of Kalash culture) to preserve the most rare and unique nation of the world Kalash tribes. There was a museum to preserve Kalasha culture a school and a hospital inside the Kalash Dur where Athanasios Lerounis imparting free education to Kalash children (both Male and Female students) and providing free treatment with free medicines to poor patients of Kalash community. He also established Bashalini (Menses house for Kalash women where they stay during their menses period and during delivery their babies in Pregnancy). Athanasios also donated fund for pipeline of Mosque at Shekhanandeh village of Kalash valley. He was staying at Chitral for the last 6 years and supporting Kalash community by giving them scholarships and motivating them towards getting high education.
Mr. Athanasios was kidnapped on 7th September midnight by unknown Masked person (Taliban) and was shifted to Nooristan area a border village situated on Pak Afghan border area in Afghanistan territory. Masked Taliban also killed one head constable of Chitral Police Zafar Ahmad who was security guard of Mr. Athanasios. the kidnappers with Athanasios Lerounis crossed the mountains and reached the proximate Nuristan valleys in Afghanistan district.
The inhabitants of the Kalasha valleys participated in unfamiliar mass demonstration, in Chitral after being informed about the abduction. Placards and moving speeches took place as well. “Bring our Athanasios back” cried out a Kalasha student adding her voice to his family request, to the members of the N.G.O “Greek Volunteers” and to a number of Athanasios Lerounis colleagues and friends. Kalash community also addressed a press conference at Peshawar Press Club demanding for early recovery of Athanasios and they appeal to world community to play role in recovery of Athanasios.
The district administration detailed a delegation under supervision of Abdul Majeed Qureshi former Nazim Union council Ayun and Kalash valley. The delegation comprising over 12 members belongs to Ursson, Shekhanandhe, Bumboroate and suburb areas situated on Pak Afghan border. They meet Taliban leaders who demanded for payment of 2 million US $ as ransom and releasing of three Taliban leaders Ustad Uasir, Maulana Rahmatuddin and Akhunzada. But the district administration denied fulfilling their demand. Hence the delegation went to Nooristan area so many times who get negotiated with Taliban and tried of their best to recover Mr. Athanasios from the posses of Taliban. The last delegation went to Nooristan in the last week of December 2009 where a Kalash boy Wazir Zada also went to Nooristan with the delegation who met Athanasios and debated with Taliban leaders.
Hence Athanasios was recovered on Wednesday District Coordination Officer (DCO) Chitral Rahmatullah Wazir told this scribe confirming the news. He said that law enforcement agencies, district police, district administration and elites of border areas plaid vital role in his recovery DCO added. Now Athanasios is taking rest in officer mess of chitral scouts an officer of Inter service intelligence (ISI) told this scribe on the condition of anonymity social and political circle of Chitral has expressed great pleasure on the recovery of Mr. Athanasios and termed it success action by the authority.
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