IED explosions: FC officer, three policemen injured in blasts

Law enforcement officials were targeted during a routine patrol in Jamrud

NOWSHERA/ JAMRUD: A paramilitary officer was killed and four people, including three policemen, were injured in two separate incidents of improvised explosive device (IED) blasts.

Asmatullah Wazir, an officer of the political administration in Jamrud told The Express Tribune that Amjid Afridi, a Khasadar, and Zahir Shah, an FC official, were patrolling the Teddy Bazaar area around 10:20am when a planted IED exploded. The blast happened moments after some vehicles carrying Nato supplies passed the area.

Afridi and Shah were injured and were taken to the Hayatabad Medical Complex, where Afridi died. Doctors said that Shah was in stable condition.

In another blast, three policemen were injured when an IED exploded near their van at Rashkai interchange in Nowshera.

Risalpur police SHO Ishaq Shah told The Express Tribune that he was patrolling the Risalpur-Mardan Road when he heard the explosion at around 11:33am and rushed towards the site. The blast occurred near a bridge at the interchange. An IED was planted on the left side of the bridge and damaged a van, injuring police officials inside the vehicle.

Constable Arifullah along with three prisoners in the vehicle remained unhurt. The prisoners were being taken to Mardan Central Jail after a case hearing in Nowshera when the explosion occurred. “The hands of the accused were chained and they didn’t try to flee,” the SHO added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2012.