Extortion threats?: House damaged in low-intensity blast

This was the fourth such attack in 10 days.

PESHAWAR: The boundary wall and gate of a house in Tauheedabad was damaged in a low-intensity bomb blast early Tuesday morning. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

The area falls under the jurisdiction of Yakatoot police station.

Police said the residence of a man identified as Ihsan was targeted. Ihsan is a trader by profession. Police officials speculated that the aim of the blast was only to create panic, adding one kilogramme of explosives were used in the attack.



This was the fourth such attack in the past 10 days. The houses targeted so far are of wealthy individuals and police believe militants are using the attacks as pressure tactics to get extortion money.

Search operation

Meanwhile, at least 14 suspects and four proclaimed offenders were arrested in a search operation in Sarband and Pishtakara on Tuesday. The operation was supervised by SP City Faisal Kamran and continued for several hours.

Police said two AK-47 rifles, four TT pistols and five kilogrammes of hashish were recovered from their possession.

“Every Ramazan petty crimes go up so the operation was launched to catch those anti-social elements,” said a police official, adding they are focused on Sarband as it borders Shalober area of Khyber Agency.

“Those people who were arrested with weapons and drugs have been booked while the rest of the suspects are being interrogated and will be released after clearance,” said the official, adding senior officers have asked all police stations to carry out search operations in their respective jurisdictions during this month.

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