Celebrations marred: Separate attacks claim three lives in Swat on Eidul Azha
High-intensity roadside bomb defused in Shangla.
one person was killed and 11 others were injured when unidentified gunmen sprayed bullets at a pickup in Qalagay area of Kabal tehsil. PHOTO: FILE
MINGORA:
Three people were killed and 10 others injured in two separate attacks in Swat on Wednesday, spreading panic among locals on the first day of Eidul Azha.
Aqal Jehan and his nephew Ali Bahadar were en route to meet their relatives on Eid when an improvised explosive device planted along the roadside in Mian Sheikh Baba area of Malam Jabba exploded near their four-wheel drive, according to Ser Telegram police.
“Both men died on the spot and their jeep was completely destroyed,” said police official Rahim Khan, adding the deceased hailed from Jahanabad village. “Soon after the incident, we surrounded the entire area and launched a search operation to trace the culprits.”
He said more than 20 suspects were arrested during the search operation,adding further investigation is underway. Sources said the targeted persons had no political affiliations.
In a separate attack, one person was killed and 11 others were injured when unidentified gunmen sprayed bullets at a pickup in Qalagay area of Kabal tehsil.
Kabal police said the incident occurred late Wednesday evening as the pickup was returning from Saidu Sharif Teaching Hospital (SSTH), where the passengers had gone to meet an ailing relative.
A man identified as Janat Zebwas killed in the ambush while another 11 people were injured, said a local, Itbar Ali. He added the driver lost control of the vehicle following the attack and the pickup fell in a roadside ditch as a result.
Police launched a search operation in the area soon after, while the injured were rushed to SSTH. They were identified as Anwar Saeed, Mohammad Alam Khan, Mian Gul, Mohammad Roz Khan, Haider Ali, Akhtar Khan, Nawabzada, Mohammad Khan, Akhtar Nawab, Zahid Khan Badshah and Ameerullah.
Meanwhile, a high-intensity bomb planted by militants at a roadside in Martong area of Shangla district was defused by bomb disposal squad (BDS) officials on the same day.
Martong police official Habib Shah said they were informed about a suspicious bag placed along the road in Balgram area, following which they rushed to the spot and informed BDS officials.
Shah said the road was blocked for four hours and BDS officials defused the explosive device which weighed 13 kilogrammes. A case was registered against unidentified militants.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 19th, 2013.
Three people were killed and 10 others injured in two separate attacks in Swat on Wednesday, spreading panic among locals on the first day of Eidul Azha.
Aqal Jehan and his nephew Ali Bahadar were en route to meet their relatives on Eid when an improvised explosive device planted along the roadside in Mian Sheikh Baba area of Malam Jabba exploded near their four-wheel drive, according to Ser Telegram police.
“Both men died on the spot and their jeep was completely destroyed,” said police official Rahim Khan, adding the deceased hailed from Jahanabad village. “Soon after the incident, we surrounded the entire area and launched a search operation to trace the culprits.”
He said more than 20 suspects were arrested during the search operation,adding further investigation is underway. Sources said the targeted persons had no political affiliations.
In a separate attack, one person was killed and 11 others were injured when unidentified gunmen sprayed bullets at a pickup in Qalagay area of Kabal tehsil.
Kabal police said the incident occurred late Wednesday evening as the pickup was returning from Saidu Sharif Teaching Hospital (SSTH), where the passengers had gone to meet an ailing relative.
A man identified as Janat Zebwas killed in the ambush while another 11 people were injured, said a local, Itbar Ali. He added the driver lost control of the vehicle following the attack and the pickup fell in a roadside ditch as a result.
Police launched a search operation in the area soon after, while the injured were rushed to SSTH. They were identified as Anwar Saeed, Mohammad Alam Khan, Mian Gul, Mohammad Roz Khan, Haider Ali, Akhtar Khan, Nawabzada, Mohammad Khan, Akhtar Nawab, Zahid Khan Badshah and Ameerullah.
Meanwhile, a high-intensity bomb planted by militants at a roadside in Martong area of Shangla district was defused by bomb disposal squad (BDS) officials on the same day.
Martong police official Habib Shah said they were informed about a suspicious bag placed along the road in Balgram area, following which they rushed to the spot and informed BDS officials.
Shah said the road was blocked for four hours and BDS officials defused the explosive device which weighed 13 kilogrammes. A case was registered against unidentified militants.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 19th, 2013.