Under the cover of darkness: Six alleged militants killed during assault on Ghundi check post

The attackers fired rockets and opened fire; security forces sustained no losses.

JAMRUD:

Nearly six alleged militants were killed by security forces on Sunday in a somewhat failed attempt to storm a check post in Ghundi, Jamrud tehsil of Khyber Agency.

A security forces official told The Express Tribune an armed clash between them and the alleged militants began around midnight and continued for over an hour.

“About a dozen militants attacked a check post in Chota Nehar by firing rockets and opening heavy fire with assault rifles at the on-duty personnel,” said the official. Security forces retaliated and gunned down six of the militants, he added.

“Heavy firing was exchanged by the two sides during the clash,” said the security official. He added the remaining militants escaped once six of their accomplices were dead. No casualties were reported by the security forces.

Following the attack, the area was cordoned off and a search initiated.

No one was arrested but according to the official, the militants’ bodies were found and shifted to Jamrud Civil Hospital for identification.

The deceased were identified as Imtiaz, a resident of Mardan, Nazir Badshah, a resident of Hangu, Imran Khan a resident of Takht Bhai, Sajid, a resident of Swabi and Amjad, a resident of Nowshera. The identity of the sixth militant could not be ascertained till this report was filed.

Further investigation is under way.

Spell of attacks

Jamrud subdivision remains at unrest; on July 18 unidentified militants attacked a security forces convoy and killed eight officials.

A convoy of the Frontier Corps (FC) was en route to Sakhi Pul from Jamrud but when it reached the administrative boundaries of Maki Khel and Mastan Khel, militants ambushed it. As a result, eight paramilitary troops were killed and one was wounded. A counter attack was launched and four attackers were killed.

Following this, a search and targeted operation was launched in the subdivision by the security forces, FC, khasadar and levies. At least 250 tribesmen were arrested and shifted for interrogation, while nearly a dozen houses of people suspected to be associated with militants were also reportedly torched.

Since then, around 10 militants have been killed by the forces in armed clashes and over 400 suspects have been rounded up in ongoing targeted search operations. Many of these people are released after interrogation.

Militants regularly attack law-enforcement agencies in the tribal areas as well as Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. On September 15, a policeman was killed and three were injured when militants attacked Thal police station in Hangu in the early hours. According to Hangu DPO Anwar Saeed Kundi, at 5am four unidentified militants, including a suicide bomber, hurled hand grenades inside the station. In a bid to repel the attackers, a police official shot at the suicide bomber upon which he detonated his vest.

Policeman Sabir Nawaz died in the ensuing blast while Umer Saeed, Mir Jan and Yousaf were injured.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2014.