Botched terror bid: Militant killed in premature explosion

Gate of contractor’s house targeted in apparent case of extortion.

PESHAWAR:

A militant was killed in Juma Khan village, Nasir Bagh when the explosive device he was planting at a nullah accidentally went off Saturday morning.

Police said the man was initially mistaken to be a suicide bomber because his body was reduced to pieces. However, upon inspection of the site by the bomb disposal unit (BDU), no evidence of a suicide vest was found.

“The militant was trying to plant a device packed with three kilogrammes of explosives near the nullah where it exploded prematurely, killing him on the spot,” an official of Nasir Bagh police station told The Express Tribune. He added the target of the device was most probably local police or polio teams, however, the botched bid killed the militant himself.

House blown up

The main gate of a contractor’s house was damaged in a low-intensity blast in Garhi Qamardin on Kohat Road Saturday morning.

Fortunately, no loss of life was reported in the attack, but the sound of the explosion resulted in widespread panic. “It could be another incident of extortion, cases of which have become a frequent occurrence in the area. However, the house owner is not willing to share any details with us,” said a Bhanamari police official. He added an FIR is yet to be registered.

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