Roadside blast: Explosion in Bajaur, no loss reported

Large reserves of ammunition and explosives recovered from suspected militants.

KHAR: A remote-controlled bomb planted by unidentified suspected militants exploded in Warha Mamond tehsil, Bajaur Agency on Sunday. No fatalities were reported.

An official of the Bajaur Political Administration, Mamoon, said unidentified militants had planted the device at a roadside 17 kilometres away from Afzal check post. The bomb detonated at approximately 10am.

The authorities reached the site and cordoned off the area. According to the political administration official, the bomb was meant to target former Awami National Party (local chapter) president and councillor of Bajaur Agency, Malik Gul Zada.

Gul Zada escaped the incident as he drove by the device before it detonated. The exact nature of the bomb or the weight of the explosives used could not be ascertained as there is no bomb disposal squad in Bajaur Agency.



In a separate incident, security forces seized weapons and explosive material in search operations conducted in the area.

Commandant Four Wing Lieutenant Colonel Ayub said the forces launched an operation on Sunday to flush the agency of dangerous weapons. He added the raids were carried out in Charmang, Nawagai tehsil and Damadola, Mamond tehsil.

Weapons recovered from the concealed basements of alleged militants included Russian-manufactured kalashnikovs, rocket shells, rocket launchers, artillery shells, mortar shells, guns, hand grenades, bullets and material used in the manufacturing of bombs, added the commandant.

According to Ayub, the arms recovered would have been used by militants in their anti-state activities. Bajaur could be cleared of weapons with the cooperation of tribal elders, said Commandant Ayub.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2013.