Spreading fear: Explosion damages Phandu Baba shrine

Explosion damages boundary wall of the shrine. No casualties reported.

PESHAWAR:

A medium-intensity bomb blast partially damaged the shrine of Phandu Baba at Phandu Chowk on Saturday evening.

Unidentified militants planted a three kilogramme homemade bomb inside the shrine building, in the jurisdiction of Chamkani police station, triggering a large explosion.

There were no casualties in the explosion as the shrine was deserted when the blast took place. However, a wave of panic spread across the city.

Police said that the blast was aimed at scaring people rather than causing any loss to human lives. Sheikh Umar Baba shrine was also targeted on Friday when a three-kilogramme explosive device was found. Fortunately, the police managed to defuse it in time.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2012.