Timely vigilance: Police arrest teenage suicide bomber

TT pistol, 10 gun cartridges recovered from the accused.

PESHAWAR: Khazana police arrested a suicide bomber and his accomplice in Maqsoodabad on Wednesday.

The police said they were on routine patrol in the area when they spotted two teenage boys on a motorcycle. After intercepting them, the police discovered one of the boys, Fazal Shah, a resident of Qandharo, Mohmand Agency was wearing a suicide vest. His accomplice has been identified as Zain Shah, a resident of Bara, Khyber Agency.

A TT pistol and 10 gun cartridges were also recovered from the accused and their motorcycle was impounded.

In another incident, the Badhaber police along with the Frontier Constabulary (FC) repulsed an attack after militants stormed the Sheen Drang check post on the border of Akka Khel, Khyber Agency late on Tuesday night. A gunfight ensued for an hour between militants and security forces.

The police said at least two dozen militants attacked the check post, which is jointly manned by the FC and police. The attackers tried to surround the check post from all sides, but a large contingent of police was sent as reinforcement to assist in repulsing the attack.



The militants retreated to Akka Khel, taking advantage of the darkness. “They took us completely by surprise and our personnel were outnumbered by a huge margin, but we were able to repulse the attack after an hour-long intense gunfight,” said a police official.

Khyber Agency is the hub of three militant groups that coordinate their actions. Security forces are currently engaged in a large-scale operation in the area, the official added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2013.