Sectarian violence: 10 killed in Upper Kurram ambush

Unidentified gunmen opened fire on a van travelling from Boshahra village towards Sadaa.

PESHAWAR:

Ten people, including women and children, were killed, while three others – all children – were wounded, when gunmen opened fire on a vehicle carrying passengers near Boshehra village in Upper Kurram agency.

Sources said the passenger van was bound from Sada to Boshehra when militants opened fire at the vehicle in Bashu village, killing four men, three women and three children. The local administration has confirmed the deaths.

“Four men and three women were killed in the attack,” Sher Bahadar, a local administrative official informed AFP by telephone. An intelligence official confirmed that it was a sectarian incident “Three people were also wounded in the attack. The attackers managed to flee the scene,” Bahadar said, adding that the victims were close relatives. Sources said nine of the ten killed belonged to Boshehra village, and the bodies have been handed over to relatives. The 10th victim was the driver and was a resident of Balishkhel. They added that the three injured were all children.
(With additional input from AFP)

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2011.