Year of violence: Terror attacks claimed 350 lives in K-P last year

Police say terrorists were mainly focused on Peshawar city.

PESHAWAR:

Violence in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) showed no signs of letting up in 2012 with 350 people losing their lives to bomb blasts, suicide attacks and police encounters.

According to a police report, there were 381 bomb blasts across the province last year, with many policemen also losing their lives in various acts of violence.

“Seventy five policemen were killed in blasts, while 12 others were killed in encounters and attacks at check posts till December 15,” states the report.

It added that 20 suicide attack cases were registered throughout the year, 169 police encounters took place and the police were able to arrest 23,000 proclaimed offenders.

Police confiscated 35,000 hand grenades and dynamites, while 1,000 safety fuses and 500 rocket launchers were also taken into custody.

Police and Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) were also able to foil hundreds of sabotage bids by defusing 757 bombs.

“We have defused many bombs in the province this year, including explosive-laden vehicles, time devices and suicide vests,” AIG Special Branch Shafqat Malik told The Express Tribune.

He said terrorists were mainly focusing on Peshawar city. The second highest number of incidents of violence took place in suburban areas adjacent to the border of Khyber Agency.

“After Peshawar, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan are the main targets of militants,” said Malik, adding that the BDS defused eight suicide jackets.

Around 24,000 kilogrammes of hashish and 400 kg of opium were also confiscated by the police. According to the report, 70,000 bottles of liquor were seized from different people during the year.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2013.