The bomb-killer: Inayatullah Khan ‘Tiger’ prowls sans fear

The BDS in-charge was severely wounded while defusing an IED in DI Khan.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: “The only reason I am alive is so I can sacrifice my life for innocent people,” says Inayatullah Khan, known to most as ‘Tiger’. The 35-year-old in-charge of the DI Khan bomb disposal squad (BDS) now lies critically injured at the Combined Military Hospital in his hometown.

“It was Monday evening, and Inayatullah Khan Tiger was on duty to kill four other IED bombs in the area after three civilians had been wounded in an earlier blast in Kulachi,” said a Kulachi police official. “Tiger was injured when one of the IEDs he was trying to defuse in Lonee, Kulachi went off.”

Inayatullah Khan is the go-to man when it comes to defusing bombs; not only in DI Khan, but adjoining districts as well. Tiger joined the police force in 1996, and has defused hundreds of bombs and suicide jackets since. He is known as the unflinching BDS official who is ever-ready to put his life on the frontlines. Now, he lies gravely injured at a hospital with fear of losing his right leg. Inayatullah was injured similarly in 2009 while on duty, but recovered from his wounds and continued his prowl relentlessly.

Tiger spends most of his time in a room of about two-and-a-half square metres at DI Khan Police Lines, both used as an office and, sometimes, living space. The walls of this room are covered with newspaper cut outs, awards, and pictures of him defusing various bombs.

“Tiger concentrates only on his duty, and never bothers with senior officials. This is why this courageous man has always received appreciation from everyone,” says a close friend, Ahmad Mughal.

The fierce Tiger is quoted by his close friend, Shakir Mehsud, as saying, “The reason I can face death with such ease is because I am not afraid of it.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2014.