Guard Arrested, Alleged Extortion Revealed; concerns are growing over damage to tourism and staff negligence
NAUKOT:
Sindh’s culture minister has taken notice of a viral obscene video allegedly filmed inside the historic Naukot Fort, prompting administrative action against the fort staff.
Following the development, a guard identified as Walam Bheel was arrested by the Vejhoto police and shifted to an undisclosed location for questioning.
Meanwhile, a former retired guard, Aachar Bheel, has claimed that the video is about a year old. However, police sources said preliminary investigations suggest that suspects involved in indecent acts inside the fort were secretly filmed and later blackmailed.
It has further emerged that an alleged gang of extortionists had been operating inside the fort for several years with the complicity of a guard.
According to sources, the gang would give visitors secluded places inside the fort for money, secretly record videos of intimate acts and subsequently blackmail the victims. Several such videos reportedly exist.
In August last year, provincial culture minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah paid a surprise visit to Naukot Fort, where several employees found absent from duty were suspended. However, they were reinstated a few months later.
Visitors to the fort have expressed concern that if such shameful videos from historical sites continue to surface and go viral, it would seriously harm tourism. They questioned who would be willing to visit such places under these circumstances and blamed the situation on the alleged incompetence and negligence of the staff posted at the fort.
Meanwhile, when journalists tried to get the official version from the SHO, Amin Junejo, he allegedly behaved rudely and threatened the journalists, warning them of consequences if they did not leave the police station. The journalists later reported the matter to SSP Tharparkar.
Political and social leaders said both domestic and foreign tourists regularly visit the historic fort, but warned that tourism would suffer if the situation was not resolved. They also pointed out that an entry fee of Rs50 is charged at the venue, with thousands of rupees collected daily.
Social and political leaders in Naukot and adjoining areas have demanded that the Prime Minister, Sindh Chief Minister and Culture Minister order a transparent inquiry and take strict legal action against those responsible.
