In the name of extortion: Bomb explosion damages trader’s house in Bannu

Explosive devices defused under a bridge and at a petrol station in other areas of the province.

HANGU/ BANNU/ CHARSADDA: The house of a trader was partially damaged in Milad Park, Bannu when a bomb planted by unidentified extortionists exploded near the structure in the late hours of Sunday.

Amir Rukhsar, an official of the City police, said the sound of a huge explosion was heard at around 10pm after which police and bomb disposal squad (BDS) officials rushed to the site.



The official said the explosion, triggered by a remote control, damaged the main gate of the house and a portion of the boundary wall. No one was hurt in the blast, the intensity of which caused windows of nearby houses to shatter.

The official added owner of the house, Yousaf Khan, told the police he had been receiving calls from extortionists who demanded money threatening to blow up his house if he refused. A case was filed against unidentified extortionists and an investigation is under way.

Bombs defused

Two high-intensity bombs planted by unidentified militants in Torangzai, Charsadda and Thal, Hangu were defused by BDS officials on Monday.

In the first incident, a bomb planted underneath a bridge in Charbagh area of Torangzai was spotted by a pedestrian after which Umerzai police and BDS officials rushed to the site and surrounded the area. Police official Shakir Dar said traffic on the bridge was halted for 45 minutes and the bomb was defused by BDS officials who reported that five kilogrammes of explosives were used in the device which, if exploded, would have completely destroyed the bridge.



Elsewhere, unidentified militants planted a bomb near the boundary wall of a petrol station in Thal which was also successfully defused by BDS officials.

DSP Thal Ashraf Khan said a station worker informed the police about a suspicious package after which officials rushed to the site and evacuated the pump. The DSP said after around 30 minutes, BDS officials defused the bomb, which had been planted at the same pump for a second time. BDS officials said the bomb was placed near the main tanks of the pump and would have wreaked havoc had it exploded.

Separate cases of the incidents were filed against unidentified militants and further investigation is under way.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2014.