Around 150 heavily armed Taliban militants freed 248 prisoners, including more than 49 hardcore militants, some belonging to the TTP and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, during a sophisticated attack on the high-security Dera Ismail Khan Central Jail in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Armed with guns, mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and bombs, the attackers bombarded the prison before escaping with the inmates after a three-hour shootout.
An official of the district police told The Express Tribune that “around 248 prisoners escaped from the jail, including 49 high-profile militants, six death row prisoners and five females”.
Inspector General Police (Prisons) Khalid Abbas told The Express Tribune that the terrorists stormed the jail around midnight Monday.
“They were armed with RPG-7 anti-tank rockets, heavy and medium machine guns and automatic rifles,” he said, adding that the attackers were also equipped with improvised explosive devices and attacked the building in two groups.
Explaining further, Abbas said they first severed the electric supply to the prison and proceeded to fire rockets at the main gate, breaking it down.
“One group destroyed an armoured personnel carrier parked outside the main building killing three policemen inside the APC and then they forced their way into the jail despite the resistance of policemen deployed to protect it.
“The jail’s policemen were heavily outnumbered so the militants managed to overpower them,” he added.
They then proceeded to break the locks of the barracks and fired at least 65 rockets and grenades into the premises to reach the part of the prison where their men were locked up.
According to police officers, the militants called out the names of their colleagues through a megaphone once they entered the building and told them to come out of their cells.
In the ambush, 12 people, including five policemen were killed and 13 others were injured. The attackers also reportedly took away a female constable, Ghullab Bibi, who had been on-duty at the women’s barracks. Another police officer said that four female prisoners were also taken away by the militants.
The slain policemen were identified as Mazhar Hussain Qureshi, Saifullah, Rustam, Mir Zaman and Peyou Sardar. The fifth officer remains unidentified.
The dead prisoners were identified as Sajid Khan, Juma Malang, Aslam (a prisoner on death row), Akther Abbas (jailed for life), Naseem, Aslam Chaudhry and another prisoner whose identity could not be ascertained.
According to police officials, four of the prisoners were Shia.
TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid claimed responsibility for the assault, calling it a “successful mission in which 150 men including seven suicide bombers participated.”
A police official claimed at least six militants were killed near Daraban check post during an exchange of gunfire between security forces and the escaping militants.
A police official who was on duty during the attack said prison authorities called for reinforcements, however they arrived late.
Commissioner DI Khan Mushtaq Jadoon said the militants had destroyed all the transformers, plunging the area into darkness when additional reinforcements arrived. He added that this provided cover to the militants to escape with the prisoners.
Jadoon stated that militants had also planted IEDs along their escape route which took the bomb disposal unit until Tuesday morning to defuse.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 31st, 2013.
COMMENTS (18)
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Why to expect from authorities / police to fight to death against Taliban when Govt of KP consider these terrorists sons of soil ( as said by CM of KP).
This incident shows how well trained and effective these militants are and they are very much dedicated towards their objective and goals. On the other hand we have very low moral very ill trained and ill equipped security forces with no will to fight. This has to go back to its origin every govt institute and organization is collapsing one by one. Soon you could expect whole districts and even provinces fell into their hands and it wont be any surprise. The corruption and dishonesty of 63 years is paying back its prizes and rewards.
no one will answer your questions, Every time such thing happened we "the nation" raised so many questions Kis se sawal kar rahay hai hum ? kon parhta hai ? kon jawab deta hai ?
After such a security failure, both CM Khatak and Chaudry Nisar should resign. They are not capable of doing their jobs,
1) Why despite so many drone attacks terrorist activities are not going down ? 2) is pak army failed , incapable or unwilling to act agains terrorists ? 3) How safe pakistani nuclear weapons are ? 4) Why doesn't pak starts a joint effort with india and israel to stop terrorism in their pakistan ? After all they are the specialists in fighting against such sort of terrorism !
Strange, 150 terrorist simply marched, and easily drove back to tribal areas, while gunship Heli's were fasting along Muslim nation....They can be chased and killed all in once, so speedy justice can be done....no need to trial under useless CJ...
Ehsanullah Ehsan then Shahidullah Shahid ?! I am sure they can make up better names for their 'spokesmen'
Just saw in Bolta Pakistan that the terrorists killed the four shia prisoners by slashing their throats. Though the terrorists had guns they did not shoot these shia prisoners but used knives. They had full information as to which sect the prisoners belong.
Can such a large scale attack occur without active insider,s support. No insurrection can survive without a significant population support. May be Imran khan should tell his party,s government to look into public safety rather than slogans which off course is much easier. Honorable thing to resign is not a tradition here. cling to power blame somebody else.
They could have requisitioned US drone and I am sure the Kafirs would have obliged us. But again the sovereignty is so important for us, the only ghairatmand creature in the universe!
@YA: And what would PTI offer in return to the Taliban for the prisoners? Unlimited access to all prisons and freedom to torture the people of KP?
Will someone responsible do the honorable thing and resign? I'll accept the resignations of the DG of the ISI, the interior minister and the local SP.
Now roundup these criminals again and this time shoot them.
I wonder why the jail guards were not prepared with a heavy machine gun on rooftop and equal force in numbers and arms. We get enough money for terrorism related jobs and Taliban warned weeks before attack. Is Kpk govt so incompetent?
Why should the world think Pakistan's nuclear weapons are any more secure than Pakistan's maximum security prisons?
more than 49 hardcore militants, some belonging to the TTP and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, ..the question is why they were kept in jail...they should have been hanged
PTI should start dialogue with TTP immediately so they can have the prisoners returned and their grievances addressed so all us can live happily ever after.......
In 3-4 hours of operation, no air support could be arranged. Does it mean that only reconnaissance operations are possible now a days.
I don't know what to say! I think we as a nation have failed. I won't be surprised if terrorists take over Pehsawar