Targeted: BDU personnel killed in IED attack

Two blasts using similar explosives left three security officials, health technician injured.

GHALLANAI: A spate of improvised explosive device (IED) attacks over the past two days in Mohmand Agency left a bomb disposal unit (BDU) official dead, and three security officials and a health technician injured.

An IED planted beside Soran Pass went off in Baizai Monday morning, killing a member of the BDU.

Ghallanai political administration official Arif Yousafzai confirmed the attack. He said a BDU team was making routine checks when the incident occurred, leaving one official dead.

Earlier on Sunday, three security officials were also injured in an IED blast in the same area in Ghanam Shah. Forces had cordoned the area off and conducted a search operation near the Pak-Afghan border.

In Safi, a health technician was injured in an IED blast on Monday. Sanab Gul was on his motorbike in Chamarkand when an IED planted by a roadside went off. Gul was rushed to the hospital, injured.

Meanwhile, an attack on the house of an NGO worker left one injured in Ghallani Sunday night. Raham Sher Rehan’s house was attacked by unidentified militants and his nephew Haris was injured. Rehan told The Express Tribune he had been receiving threats from militant organisations for a while.

Curfew

In a bid to clamp down upon militant activities, Mohmand political administration imposed a nightly curfew in the agency, starting Monday. The curfew hours are from 6pm to 6am. Similar curfews have been in place in Sro Kalay in Charsadda; Michni police arrested 60 Afghan nationals under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act 1946.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2015.