Security lapse: One killed, three injured in militant attack

KHAR/ PESHAWAR:

A woman was killed and three other people were seriously injured when dozens of armed militants attacked and torched four houses in Sheikh Nala, Mattani on Wednesday night, said locals.

The militants attacked houses belonging to Haji Sumad Khan, Samander Khan and Baz Khan as well as an adjacent house.

After surrounding the area, the militants used RPG-7 rocket launchers and machine  guns to target the homes, following which they entered the buildings and set them ablaze. Residents put up fierce resistance, but were ill-equipped and outnumbered.

Adezai Aman Lashkar volunteers launched a counter-attack, forcing the militants to flee from the area. Four injured persons, including Haji Sumad Khan’s wife, were rushed to the Lady Reading Hospital. Sumad’s wife succumbed to her injuries while the three others were stated to be stable.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Sumad blamed the police for not responding to their calls of distress.

“After nightfall, these militants virtually rule the entire area and police cower in their stations to avoid confrontations with them,” he alleged, adding one of his relatives, Arif, was kidnapped and killed by militants three months ago.

Assault on check post

Meanwhile, two levies officials were severely injured when unidentified militants attacked their check post in Yousafabad, Bajaur Agency on Thursday.

At approximately 12:30am, militants fired rockets at the Yousafabad check post.  According to Khar political administration official Abdul Haseeb, this was followed by hand grenade attacks and heavy firing, which left two levies officials injured. Haseeb said the officials retaliated with heavy gunfire and asked for assistance. Security forces rushed to the scene.

The official added the militants were unable to make it to the check post.

The injured levies officials identified as Imran and Jan Wali were taken to the Agency Headquarters Hospital, Khar.

Security forces and levies officials launched a search operation in Yousafabad in the morning, arresting 12 suspects under the collective responsibility clause of the Frontier Crimes Regulation.

During the attack, a rocket hit a 66KV power supply line and caused an electricity outage in most parts of the agency, added Haseeb. The power line was not repaired till the filing of this report.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2013.