Restive Khyber Agency: 12 militants slain as forces pound hideouts
Two security personnel also killed; roadside bomb in Michini targets FC convoy.
BARA:
Two security force members were killed and another six injured on Monday when gunship helicopters pounded militant hideouts in the restive Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency.
Security forces claimed that 12 suspected militants were gunned down during the offensive.
An official said paramilitary troops launched an operation against militants in Sipah area of Bara at 6:00 am. He added the force was backed by tanks and aerial assistance.
According to him, the forces advanced towards Malikdin Khel, Shalobar, Akka Khel and Sheen Darang areas and killed a dozen suspected militants, while several of their trenches in Shalobar area were destroyed.
However, an improvised bomb planted by militants near a hospital in Shalobar claimed the lives of two security officials and injured another six.
The official identified the deceased as Rashid Mehmood and Sanaul Haq, while the six injured personnel were Atif, Zaher, Asad, Altaf, Muhammad Hussain and Saeed. The injured were rushed to a hospital in Peshawar.
Another paramilitary official from the area said bullet-riddled bodies of six suspected militants were found near Malikdin Khel. He said a teenager Qasim, who is a resident of Qambar Khel, was also injured by a stray bullet during the operation, and was rushed to the hospital.
In another instance, mortar shells landed on the houses of journalist (late) Nasrullah Afridi and tribal elder Saadullah Khan in Bara. Khan, who was seriously wounded, succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital.
An official said a mortar shell had landed on Khan’s house last year as well, killing his daughter in-law and four grandchildren. Afridi, on the other hand, had been targeted earlier: a bomb planted inside his vehicle took his life. The shell which landed on his house damaged part of the building but caused no loss to human lives.
In the frontier region of Bannu, two missiles were fired at the Misrael check post from unknown directions in the early hours of the morning. Security officials said the missiles missed their target and exploded in the Tochi stream instead.
In Charsadda, three Frontier Corps (FC) were injured when an improvised bomb exploded in Sro Kallay area.
According to an official, an FC convoy was passing through Angor Korona area in Michini when an explosive device planted near the roadside blew up.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2012.
Two security force members were killed and another six injured on Monday when gunship helicopters pounded militant hideouts in the restive Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency.
Security forces claimed that 12 suspected militants were gunned down during the offensive.
An official said paramilitary troops launched an operation against militants in Sipah area of Bara at 6:00 am. He added the force was backed by tanks and aerial assistance.
According to him, the forces advanced towards Malikdin Khel, Shalobar, Akka Khel and Sheen Darang areas and killed a dozen suspected militants, while several of their trenches in Shalobar area were destroyed.
However, an improvised bomb planted by militants near a hospital in Shalobar claimed the lives of two security officials and injured another six.
The official identified the deceased as Rashid Mehmood and Sanaul Haq, while the six injured personnel were Atif, Zaher, Asad, Altaf, Muhammad Hussain and Saeed. The injured were rushed to a hospital in Peshawar.
Another paramilitary official from the area said bullet-riddled bodies of six suspected militants were found near Malikdin Khel. He said a teenager Qasim, who is a resident of Qambar Khel, was also injured by a stray bullet during the operation, and was rushed to the hospital.
In another instance, mortar shells landed on the houses of journalist (late) Nasrullah Afridi and tribal elder Saadullah Khan in Bara. Khan, who was seriously wounded, succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital.
An official said a mortar shell had landed on Khan’s house last year as well, killing his daughter in-law and four grandchildren. Afridi, on the other hand, had been targeted earlier: a bomb planted inside his vehicle took his life. The shell which landed on his house damaged part of the building but caused no loss to human lives.
In the frontier region of Bannu, two missiles were fired at the Misrael check post from unknown directions in the early hours of the morning. Security officials said the missiles missed their target and exploded in the Tochi stream instead.
In Charsadda, three Frontier Corps (FC) were injured when an improvised bomb exploded in Sro Kallay area.
According to an official, an FC convoy was passing through Angor Korona area in Michini when an explosive device planted near the roadside blew up.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2012.