Accidental blast: Ten killed in Tirah Valley explosion

The blast occurred when locals tried to extract explosives from an unexploded mortar shell.

MIRAMSHAH/ HANGU/ BARA:

Ten people, including three members of the outlawed Lashkar-e-Islam, were killed when a mortar shell exploded in a remote valley of Khyber Agency on Monday.

An official of the political administration told The Express Tribune that the mortar shell landed in the Dars Jumat area of Tirah Valley early in the morning. The explosion, however, occurred when local tribesmen attempted to extract explosives from the unexploded shell.

“Nine people died on the spot… another person was critically wounded and succumbed to his injuries on way to hospital,” the official added.

The scenic Tirah Valley has long been plagued by a turf war between rival extremist groups. The fighting has forced thousands of tribesmen out of the valley. Many of them are now sheltering in Peshawar and other tribal regions bordering Khyber Agency.

Meanwhile, a woman was killed and another one critically injured in an explosion inside a house in Bara on Monday.

Confirming the incident, an official of the political administration said the house was destroyed in the early morning explosion. There were conflicting reports as to whether it was an accident or an act of terrorism.



Hangu suicide blast

In Hangu district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, a student died while thwarting a suicide attack targeting his school on Monday.

According to District Police Officer (DPO) Iftikhar Ahmad, the incident took place outside Government High School Ibrahimzai.

Iftikhar said the attacker intended to target the school. However, the attack was thwarted due to the actions of student Aitzaz Hasan, who lost his live as a result. “He laid down his life to protect the lives of around 2,000 students present in the school at the time of the explosion,” the DPO said.

Eyewitnesses said the attacker – aged between 20 and 25 – was dressed in school uniform. He detonated his vest when he was stopped for questioning by 9th grader Aitzaz outside the school’s gate, killing himself and the student on the spot.

An official of the bomb disposal squad said around six kilogrammes of explosive were used in the blast. Central spokesperson for Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Ali Sufyan claimed responsibility for the attack.

Two killed in Miramshah

Two persons were shot and fatally injured by security forces in Miramshah, North Waziristan Agency, during a curfew on Monday.

According to sources, the deceased – identified as Inayatullah and Waris – were shopping for meat in the Dattakhel Adda area when they were fired upon by security forces. The two men were critically wounded in the incident and succumbed to their injuries on way to hospital. The entire North Waziristan Agency has been placed under curfew daily, from 6am to 6pm, ever since a security checkpoint was attacked by militants last month.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2014.