Militants blow themselves up in Swabi encounter

Sub-inspector killed while two IEDs were defused in Peshawar

SHABQADAR/ JAMRUD/ PESHAWAR/SWABI: At least two militants were killed, while a police constable was critically injured on Friday in Swabi. Separately, a sub-inspector was gunned down while two improvised explosive devices (IED) were found and defused in Peshawar the same day.

According to a press release issued from Swabi DPO Javed Iqbal’s office, three militants attacked a police van within the jurisdiction of Kalu Khan police station in Swabi. Subsequently, a police constable, Fazal Subhan, was critically injured. When the police retaliated, the press release stated, two of the militants blew themselves.

The encounter went on for over half an hour, during which the remaining militant managed to escape. The injured constable was shifted to Peshawar for treatment.

The DPO started a search operation in the area and called for extra personnel.

IEDs defused

In Peshawar, sub-inspector Ibrahim was gunned down on Friday evening, in what appears to be another incident of target killing, in Akhunabad situated within the jurisdiction of Phandu police station.

Phandu DSP Rokhanzeb told The Express Tribune Ibrahim was on his way home after offering prayers when unidentified persons opened fire at him. He was rushed to Lady Reading Hospital but died en route.

He was posted at Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines.

“It looks like a target killing incident for the time being,” said the DSP, adding the police had reached the area and were collecting evidence while the body was sent for an autopsy.

On the other hand, a terrorism bid was foiled while a militant was arrested. He was carrying a four-kilogramme IED in Hassan Garhi situated within the jurisdiction of Michni Gate police station.

A team from the bomb disposal unit defused the device, while the militant was shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

The police believed the militant was trying to enter Peshawar to carry out sabotage activities but was caught red-handed.

A local told the police about a mysterious object, most likely an explosive device, lying on a railway track under a flyover in Paharipura. The police immediately surrounded the area and called the bomb disposal unit.

The device was defused, after which rumors started making rounds about two men carrying an IED towards a bus and that they were the aides of the arrested militant.

The police stopped the bus on University Road and checked it thoroughly, but nothing was found in it.

Target, operation

In Shabqadar, Charsadda, unidentified persons attacked a police station with an explosive device. According to the police, the device did not hit the police station, but exploded in a nearby irrigation channel. The DIG of Mardan circle who was in Charsadda for a visit had left an hour before the attack took place.

In Jamrud, unidentified men shot the son of a renowned leader, Malik Zebur Rehman, a resident of Khyber Agency in Jamrud, on Thursday. Four khasadar officials were also injured in the attack. The security officials arrested four suspects from the area after the incident and shifted them to an undisclosed location for interrogation. This is the fifth attack on khasadar force this week.

Moreover, an operation was conducted by Field Intelligence Unit of Frontier Corps in Spin Qabar, Bara in Khyber Agency. During the operation, a huge cache of arms and ammunition was found. This was mentioned in a press release issued from the FC headquarters in Bala Hissar, Peshawar.  

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2016.