Under-construction building: Jail blown up in Hangu

Two barracks, five rooms destroyed in three high-intensity explosions.

HANGU:

An under-construction building of the Hangu District Jail was blown up militants at midnight on Thursday. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Darra Adam Khel chapter has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Two barracks and five rooms were destroyed as three high-intensity explosives planted inside the structures were remotely detonated in a series, District Police Officer (DP) Mian Saeed Khan told reporters. A total of 35kg explosive material was used in the three explosions: 15kg in the first blast and 10kg each in the second and third, he said.

Four watchmen on duty have been arrested, said Saeed, adding that further investigations are underway.

Investigations reveal that the militants went inside the building and planted the explosives, which is why the watchmen on duty are being questioned, said a police official on the condition of anonymity.



The arrested men, identified as Akhtar Gul, Nazar Muhammad, Izzat Khan and Abdul Wahab, had recently started living near the construction site and were hired by the building contractor without prior investigation, he said. He added that of the arrested men, Wahab is a resident of Orakzai Agency while the rest are residents of Kurram Agency.

The official said that the new jail building was being constructed in Qazi Pump area, which is a crowded part of the city, and the blast created panic among the residents.



Asadullah, in-charge of the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) confirmed that around 35kg of high intensity explosives were used in the three blasts.

Claiming responsibility of the attack, TTP Darra Adam Khel chapter Spokesperson Muhammad said they will target any structure that poses hindrance to their plans.

In the past, militant group have targeted schools in Hangu but it is for the first time they targeted a government building.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2013.