Intelligence tip-off: Police seize explosives in Dera Town

ASP says seized explosive material was intended for terrorist acts, possibly during Friday prayers.

DI KHAN: Acting on an intelligence tip-off, the bomb disposal squad (BDS) defused explosives found in a field near Arra Road, DI Khan on Friday. According to a Dera Town police official, policemen and a BDS team led by Station House Officer Abdullah Khan reached the site after the tip-off and cordoned it off. He added security officials seized a two-kilogramme remote-controlled explosive device, explosive material weighing six kilogrammes, three hand grenades of Russian origin, two mortar shells, four remote controls, batteries and detonators from the spot. However, the offenders managed to flee before the police arrived. The explosives were then defused on spot, before being shifted to Dera Town police station. ASP Sadiq Baloch, who had initially directed police officials to carry out the raid, told journalists the seized explosive material was intended for terrorist acts in DI Khan, possibly during Friday prayers. However, timely intervention from the police helped foil the bid.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2014.