Fatal attacks: Two security officials killed, three injured in IED blasts
Heavy contingents of security officials backed by gunships launched a search operation.
Corps Commander Lieutenant General Khalid Rabbani and other senior officers saluting the martyrs of Miralli blasts after their funeral prayers. PHOTO: ONLINE
DERA ISMAIL KHAN/MIRANSHAH/PARACHINAR:
Two security officials were killed while five others were injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded on a roadside in Mirali tehsil, North Waziristan on Sunday.
The authorities claim there was another IED explosion in the agency but no loss was reported. The bomb disposal squad also defused a third IED.
An official from the security forces said the incident took place in the early hours of the morning when their protection unit was securing the area and patrolling the road to clear it for security forces convoys. He added the protection unit was on its way to Mirali tehsil from Miranshah Fort when it reached Karam Kot and an IED exploded near one of the vehicles.
The bodies and injured officials were taken to the medical unit in Miranshah from where they were referred to Bannu Combined Military Hospital.
According to the official, heavy contingents of security officials backed up by gunships launched a search operation in Karam Kot and Patasi Adda. They also fired rockets at suspected militant hideouts, however, no one was killed or arrested in the raid. During the search operation, a security official located another IED planted near Karam Kot which was later defused by the bomb disposal squad.
While talking about the second explosion, the security official said a powerful IED was planted by unidentified militants on Miranshah-Mirali Road and was detonated using a remote control device. The explosion was loud and spread panic amongst residents but no loss was reported.
Since Sunday morning, the political administration officials of North Waziristan have imposed a routine curfew in the main areas. Tribesmen have been informed to restrict their movement and avoid main routes.
The outlawed Ansarul Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the bomb blast.
Landmine explosions
In Kurram Agency, a man and two students were killed while another student was injured in landmine explosions on Sunday.
According to an official of the political administration, the first incident occurred at around 7:10am. Sarfaraz Hussain was on his way to Parachinar, the agency headquarters, from Daal village when a mine planted by unidentified militants exploded near him. Hussain was severely injured and was on his way to Agency Headquarters Hospital in Parachinar when he succumbed to his injuries.
The official added the second incident occurred minutes later in Shublan. A group of students were on their way to Parachinar city in a car from Zangi to buy computers when a roadside mine exploded near the vehicle in which three were injured. The vehicle was completely destroyed. Two students identified as Syed Muhammad and Syed Wasi Shah succumbed to injuries while Syed Yasin Hussain was taken to a hospital in Islamabad for treatment.
The last reported mine blast was on November 2 when a woman stepped on a land mine in Boshera, Kurram Agency. She was severely injured. On October 20, Khalil Khan was on his way fishing when he too was injured at the same location. Eight days before Khan was injured, two children were injured in a landmine blast. In a landmine blast on October 9, two tribesmen lost their legs after stepping on a mine in Pewar and Boshera.
Some mines have been planted since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan while others have been planted by militants targeting security forces and patrolling officials.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2013.
Two security officials were killed while five others were injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded on a roadside in Mirali tehsil, North Waziristan on Sunday.
The authorities claim there was another IED explosion in the agency but no loss was reported. The bomb disposal squad also defused a third IED.
An official from the security forces said the incident took place in the early hours of the morning when their protection unit was securing the area and patrolling the road to clear it for security forces convoys. He added the protection unit was on its way to Mirali tehsil from Miranshah Fort when it reached Karam Kot and an IED exploded near one of the vehicles.
The bodies and injured officials were taken to the medical unit in Miranshah from where they were referred to Bannu Combined Military Hospital.
According to the official, heavy contingents of security officials backed up by gunships launched a search operation in Karam Kot and Patasi Adda. They also fired rockets at suspected militant hideouts, however, no one was killed or arrested in the raid. During the search operation, a security official located another IED planted near Karam Kot which was later defused by the bomb disposal squad.
While talking about the second explosion, the security official said a powerful IED was planted by unidentified militants on Miranshah-Mirali Road and was detonated using a remote control device. The explosion was loud and spread panic amongst residents but no loss was reported.
Since Sunday morning, the political administration officials of North Waziristan have imposed a routine curfew in the main areas. Tribesmen have been informed to restrict their movement and avoid main routes.
The outlawed Ansarul Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the bomb blast.
Landmine explosions
In Kurram Agency, a man and two students were killed while another student was injured in landmine explosions on Sunday.
According to an official of the political administration, the first incident occurred at around 7:10am. Sarfaraz Hussain was on his way to Parachinar, the agency headquarters, from Daal village when a mine planted by unidentified militants exploded near him. Hussain was severely injured and was on his way to Agency Headquarters Hospital in Parachinar when he succumbed to his injuries.
The official added the second incident occurred minutes later in Shublan. A group of students were on their way to Parachinar city in a car from Zangi to buy computers when a roadside mine exploded near the vehicle in which three were injured. The vehicle was completely destroyed. Two students identified as Syed Muhammad and Syed Wasi Shah succumbed to injuries while Syed Yasin Hussain was taken to a hospital in Islamabad for treatment.
The last reported mine blast was on November 2 when a woman stepped on a land mine in Boshera, Kurram Agency. She was severely injured. On October 20, Khalil Khan was on his way fishing when he too was injured at the same location. Eight days before Khan was injured, two children were injured in a landmine blast. In a landmine blast on October 9, two tribesmen lost their legs after stepping on a mine in Pewar and Boshera.
Some mines have been planted since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan while others have been planted by militants targeting security forces and patrolling officials.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2013.