Army commandos were sent to Mattani, based on an intelligence report about three militants who were planning a terror attack in Mattani Bazaar. PHOTO: FILE
Five people, including two alleged militants and three passers-by, were killed in a murky sequence of events starting with an exchange of fire between security forces and militants on Sunday in Mattani Bazaar on the outskirts of the city. Three militants were arrested after an armed encounter, two of whom succumbed to their wounds later.
Army commandos were sent to Mattani, based on an intelligence report about three militants who were planning a terror attack in Mattani Bazaar. The team reached the site and arrested all three men after a brief exchange of fire, causing a stampede in the busy marketplace.
“Commandos, both in plain clothes and uniform, came to the market and engaged in a shoot-out with militants,” an eyewitness told The Express Tribune. “They arrested all three of them, who were armed with pistols and hand grenades, and shifted them to an undisclosed location.”
The eyewitness added that all three attackers were young men and wore the same colour shalwar kameez and sandals.
“Zahid, a resident of Adezai, and Ikram, a resident of Afghanistan, were arrested by the security forces in an injured condition, both of whom later died,” said an official of the local police station. “Their bodies have been handed over to the police, while the third militant, Naveed, is still in their custody and is being interrogated at an undisclosed location.”
Police claim the target was one of their mobiles patrolling the area, but there has been no official statement from security forces in this regard.
“Five passers-by were also hit in the exchange of firing with the forces,” added the policeman. “The wounded, including a woman, were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital where three of them succumbed to their injuries.”
However, conflicting reports emerged after the incident, contradicting the cause of death of the passers-by. Locals complained that soon after the raid, police arrived on the scene to conduct a search for two accomplices of the detained militants. They claim it was police action which resulted in the death of the innocent bystanders.
“The same gang has been involved in target killings in and around Mattani, of which there have been almost 20 incidents in the past year,” said the official. “They (the militants) are also responsible for the murders of polio workers and peace committee members.”
Peace volunteer killed in Mohmand
A peace committee volunteer was killed in a landmine blast early Sunday morning in Ambar tehsil, Mohmand Agency.
Lower Mohmand Agency Assistant Political Agent Muhammad Naeem told The Express Tribune that Haji Inayat, a member of a peace committee, was in Ambar tehsil when a landmine planted by unidentified militants exploded, killing Inayat on the spot.
Security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. At least five suspects were arrested. However, no group had claimed responsibility for the incident till the filing of this report.
On June 1, a passer-by was injured in an IED blast in Dawizai area of the agency.
In late May, at least six security officials died in blasts in Tamanzai, Pandyali tehsil. After these incidents, the political administration imposed a nightly curfew in some parts of Mohmand.
Landmines have injured and claimed many lives, especially in Kurram Agency. On April 30, Gulzar Hussain, a resident of Pewar, Kurram, stepped on a landmine at a roadside and was injured. On March 31, Ajmal Hussain was driving to Parachinar when his car drove over such a device, causing it to explode. Hussain was critically injured.
Marble factory set ablaze in Shabqadar
In another incident, a marble factory in Subhan Khowar, Shabqadar was set on fire late Saturday night.
According to Shabqadar police official Naseem Hayat, unidentified arsonists set fire to a marble factory, burning furniture and machinery to a crisp. At least 200 maunds of wheat was also destroyed. The factory is owned by Muhammad Umar, a resident of Gandawo, Mohmand.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 9th, 2014.
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