Roadside blast kills Khasadar Force man

Administration summons jirgas to discuss flagging security situation in tribal agency

SHABQADAR: A member of the Khasadar Force was killed in a roadside blast in the Safi area on Wednesday.

Local administration officials said the blast was triggered by an improvised explosive device that was planted by unidentified miscreants near Karkanai Post in the Qandhari Safi area.

Security forces later cordoned off the area and conducted a search operation.

The slain Khasadar man, was later identified as Usman.

The political administration has summoned jirgas to discuss the security situation in the tribal agency at the sub-division level.

Assistant Political Agent of the Lower Mohmand Agency Naveed Akbar has so far held jirgas in Dawizai, Burhan Khel, Dado Khel and Qasim Khel areas to remind tribesmen of their collective responsibility for identifying militants and their facilitators, in addition to keeping the peace in their respective areas.

A tribal agency official called upon tribesmen to maintain the highest level of vigilance and inform the administration about the activities of suspected militants.

The APA, in the meantime, urged tribal elders to support the political administration and security forces in their areas for maintaining peace.

Over the past few days, the law and order situation has deteriorated especially in the Safi tehsil.

On Tuesday, two members of the Levies Force lost their lives in IED blasts in the Safi tehsil. A strings of attacks have been carried out on security officials in the last few days.

To handle the situation, the tribal administration has intensified security measures in Safi and other sensitive areas.

Officials say that search operations are continuing in nearby areas. The marble mines – seen as the economic lifeline for people in the agency – have been closed under the FCR.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24^th, 2016.