Tragedy Averted: 80kg bomb defused near Khyber Agency

“Residents spotted the unusual device and informed the police who contacted the bomb disposal squad,” says official.

PESHAWAR:

The bomb disposal squad (BDS) defused a powerful explosive device in Achini Bala bordering Khyber Agency on Tuesday morning.

According to the police, unidentified men placed a large drum full of explosives near Taj Muhammad’s house. “It was a 80 kilogramme remote controlled device. Initially we couldn’t believe it,” said an official of the Sarband Police Station. He added that the entire street would have been razed if the barrel had exploded. The official said Taj Muhammad belongs to the Zakha Khel clan and has been residing in the area for quite some time. He said militants had tried to destroy his house once earlier too as he had refused to pay money to them. “Residents spotted the unusual device and informed the police who contacted the bomb disposal squad,” said the official.

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