Two IED blasts: Eight men of Bajaur Scouts, three BDU officials injured

SHABQADAR:

Eleven men of Bajaur Scouts and three officials of Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) were injured in two back-to-back improvised explosive device (IED) blasts in Ghungat Jour area of Safi tehsil in Mohmand Agency on Wednesday.

An official of the political administration in Safi said that unidentified militants targeted a troop of Bajaur Scout when it was going back to Bajaur Agency from the border post of Nava Pass. Initially, the injured were rushed to nearest Mamad Gat Hospital in Safi and then airlifted to Peshawar for treatment.

Meanwhile, the BDU team which was clearing the area where the first explosion had occurred was also hit by an IED. Three members of BDU suffered minor injuries and they too were taken to Mamad Gat Hospital. Soon after the incident security forces cordoned off the area and have so far detained at least 20 suspects under collective responsibility law of Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR).

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2015.