Motive unknown: Armed men attack primary school in Orakzai

Try to kidnap teacher who had earlier received threatening calls.

HANGU: Four armed men barged into a government primary school in Upper Orakzai Agency and attempted to kidnap one of the teachers on Saturday morning. The men also snatched valuables from teachers.

Alam Jan, the headmaster of Government Primary School Bulandkhel Hameed Jan Kalay in Upper Orakzai, told The Express Tribune they were in the school premises as per routine when the men came inside.

He added the armed men brutally thrashed Kifayat, a teacher, and snatched his and other employees’ mobiles. Alam added the men attempted to kidnap Kifayat but could not do so as locals rushed to their rescue after hearing the hue and cry from the school.

The headmaster said they let the students out through an alternate exit route when the men barged into the school.

The teacher, Kifayat, said the beating has left pain in his chest and stomach, adding one of his hands has also been fractured. He said he does not know the reason behind him being targeted as he did not have any dispute with anyone.

However, he said he had earlier received a call in which the caller introduced himself as a member of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and asked him for Rs5 million. Kifayat said the man threatened to kidnap and kill him if he failed to pay the amount.

He appealed to the political administration to provide him protection otherwise he would not be able to continue with his duty at the school.

Ismailzai political tehsildar Khistan Akbar confirmed that armed men had entered the school.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2015.