Militancy: Soldier injured in Malakand suicide attack

PESHAWAR: A Pakistan Army soldier was injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up in the Batkhela area of Malakand Agency on Saturday morning.

Sources said that security forces had launched a search operation when locals informed them about a family, which had migrated to the area a few months ago, and were suspected of involvement in terrorism. When security forces cordoned off the house, suspected militants hiding inside fired on them. Soldiers returned fire and an encounter ensued.

“When (the militants were) encircled, a suicide bomber blew himself up, injuring a soldier while another was arrested before he could detonate his explosive vest,” sources said, adding that five ‘handlers’ had also been arrested during the operation.

After the blast, security forces sealed the entry and exit routes and shifted the arrested persons to an undisclosed location.

A resident told The Express Tribune that local people were worried after the incident because militants, fleeing from Mohmand Agency in the wake of an operation there, were entering Malakand again.

Meanwhile, four suspected militants were killed in a clash with security forces in Tarat area of Madyan district in the Malakand Agency.

Sources said that security forces had tried to stop a suspect vehicle for searching when its passengers opened fire.

The personnel deployed fired back, killing all occupants who were later identified as: Umar Ali, Zakirullah, both residents of Fatehpur, Shafiullah from Pir Paty and Bakht Zada, from Khwazakhela district.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2011.