Remote-controlled: Bomb blasts in DI Khan, Charsadda, Swabi

Tank Aman Committee member escapes unhurt, no loss reported.

SWABI/ DERA ISMAIL KHAN/ CHARASADDA: Tank Aman Committee member Salam Khan Bhaittani escaped an attempt on his life when a roadside bomb went off minutes after his vehicle drove over a bridge in the district Wednesday morning.

According to an official of the Shaheed Mureed Akbar police station, explosives were planted underneath a bridge on Wana-DI Khan Road in Gura Hayath, located about five kilometres west of Tank city. The blast occurred at around 8:20am, the official added.

The bridge was constructed prior to 1974 Partition, but due to the low-intensity of the bomb, it remained undamaged. No loss was reported in the incident, the official said.

A case was registered against unidentified culprits at the Shaheed Mureed Akbar police station.

Charsadda bazaar blast

A bomb exploded in Sardheri Bazaar in Charsadda on Wednesday morning, however, no loss was reported.

Sardheri police official Murad Khan told The Express Tribune the incident occurred around 8:05am. He added unidentified militants had planted a low-intensity, home-made bomb in a heap of garbage in Korha Khel Chowk, which was detonated by remote control. “Fortunately, no one was around in the otherwise crowded place,” Murad said. After the explosion, police rushed to the site along with bomb disposal squad (BDS) officials. They searched through the heaps of garbage for another improvised explosive device, but later, the BDS cleared the area.

The official said around one kilogramme of explosives was used in the bomb and a case had been filed against unidentified militants.

Swabi

Another bomb planted by unidentified militants in a graveyard near Kalu Khan police station exploded. No loss was reported, however.

An official of Kalu Khan police, Rajab Ali, said the incident occurred around 4:15pm, adding the remote-controlled bomb went off at a roadside graveyard. The official speculated the bomb was planted to target a police van. Officials rushed to the site and surrounded the area, blocking the Mardan-Swabi Road for 15 minutes before reopening it.

A case was filed against unidentified militants. According to BDS officials, one kilogramme of explosives was used in the bomb.

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