Unabated militancy: Security official killed, three others injured in IED blast

Miranshah checkpoint remained under attack by militants for 30 minutes.

MIRANSHAH:

A security official was killed and three others were injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near a vehicle on Bannu-Miranshah Road on Sunday.

A security forces convoy was en route to Bannu from Miranshah, said an official of the forces. The convoy had reached Chashma Bridge when the IED detonated. Four security personnel sustained injuries and the vehicle was wrecked in the explosion.

According to the official, the victims were shifted to the medical unit in Miranshah Fort where one of the officials succumbed to his injuries. The three injured were then rushed to the Combined Military Hospital, Bannu in a helicopter.



A search operation was launched in the surrounding areas, he added.

Ambush

In another attack on security forces on Sunday, unidentified militants armed with heavy and light weapons opened fire at the Miranshah check post. The attack continued for approximately 30 minutes.

Militants hiding in nearby mountains fired rockets and used assault rifles to attack security officials, said an official of the forces. Retaliatory fire forced the militants to flee.

After the attacks on Sunday, political officials of the agency imposed a curfew. Tribesmen were informed through announcements in local mosques to restrict themselves to their houses and avoid using the main routes in the agency.

IEDs in Mir Ali tehsil

Meanwhile, BDS officials were clearing the Mir Ali-Miranshah Road for the movement of a convoy when one of the officials defused an IED planted at a roadside near Phatasi Adda.

A second device was also detected, however, could not be defused. It was detonated safely though causing nearby locals to panic at the sound of the explosion.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2013.