Amid curfew: Two IEDs explode in NWA, no loss of life

Another remote-controlled bomb defused in DI Khan.

MIRANSHAH/ DI KHAN: Two bombs planted by unidentified militants exploded at a roadside in Miranshah, the agency headquarters of North Waziristan, on Monday.

No loss of life was reported in the incident as the explosions occurred when no one was present in the surrounding areas. A security forces official said militants had planted two improvised explosive devices (IED) in Khar Qamar and Kalinjar areas which detonated at 10am and 11:30am, respectively, however no one was hurt in the incident.



The official said the bombs were planted to target army convoys traveling through Datta Khel-Miranshah Road, adding security forces launched a search operation in the area but no suspects were arrested.

Meanwhile, tribal elders after convening separate jirgas in the agency have raised a force of armed tribesmen to patrol streets day and night for security purposes.

An official of the political administration said around 40 to 60 tribesmen are patrolling to secure the areas from militants trying to plant IEDs at roadsides to target military vehicles.

Businesses and educational activities in the agency continue to remain at a halt due to the ongoing curfew. Tribesmen in the agency have been told to restrict their movement due to the passage of security forces’ convoys on the roads.

Separately, the bomb disposal squad (BDS) defused a bomb in Gas Mandi Bazaar in DI Khan, said an official of the city police.

The official said unidentified men had planted an IED in a plastic bag near a wheat grinding machine owned by Maqbool Hussain. Police were informed after which they dispatched a BDS team which cordoned off the area and defused the bomb.



A case was registered and a search initiated to nab the culprits but no arrests were made till the filing of this report.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2014.