Attack averted: Suicide bomber gunned down by security forces

Agencies informed local police about three bombers in Lower Dir.

TIMERGARA:

A suicide bomber detonated a bomb strapped on his body after security forces and police personnel shot at him in the Mayar area of Jandol subdivision in Lower Dir district on Wednesday. A pedestrian was injured in the shootout.

Talking to reporters, District Police Officer Ijaz Abid said that they were informed by intelligence agencies that three suicide bombers had arrived in Jandol. He added that a search operation launched by the police and security forces within limits of the Mayar police station resulted in spotting the bomber who was hiding in a corn field.

Abid claimed that security forces and police surrounded the field and demanded the suspect to surrender.

“The bomber did not surrender after which security forces and the police opened fire on him. As a result, he got shot, following which he detonated the bomb.”  Security forces immediately launched a search operation in the area; however, no arrests have been made so far.

Mayar police SHO Anwar Saeed told The Express Tribune that the Mayar police force, along with elite security forces personnel, launched the offensive after being tipped off by the intelligence agencies.

“Upon realising that security personnel were approaching him, the bomber ran to the corn field and hid there. A pedestrian was also shot and injured,” he said, adding that the attacker’s accomplice managed to escape. However, the injured pedestrian, identified as Bahadur Khan, gave a contradicting report. Speaking to reporters, Khan said he was on his way to the local market in Mayar to buy groceries, when two armed men approached him, checked his identity card and asked him his reason for walking in the area. The men then, suddenly, shot him.

Khan claimed he was rushed to the hospital for treatment, following which, security forces launched the operation and killed the bomber.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2012.