Curfew imposed in Jandola; school hit by drone in North Waziristan, no casualties reported
DERA ISMAIL KHAN:
A security force personnel was killed in a drone attack on a checkpoint in Tank district, while three kidnapped brothers were found dead in Bannu and another drone strike hit a school in North Waziristan, officials said Thursday.
In Tank, Naik Nadeem was martyred when terrorists targeted a security force check post in Tank district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday evening, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of KP – Dera Ismail Khan region said in an official statement.
According to the CTD, the attack took place around 1:30 am in Kiri Haider village within the limits of SMA police station. The terrorists described as “Fitna-Al-Khawarij” used a quadcopter to drop two explosive shells on the checkpoint.
Fitna-Al-Khawarij is the state-designated term for the banned group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
The CTD said security forces secured the post and its surroundings after the attack. Naik Nadeem was seriously injured by the impact of the explosives and later succumbed to his injuries.
Further details regarding possible damage or possible terrorist casualties are awaited, the department said, adding that the information was transmitted late due to network problems in the area.
“Control and surveillance operations are underway,” said the CTD.
Authorities imposed a curfew in the Jandola area of Tank on February 26 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Officials said all movements would remain suspended during the curfew and Jandola Bazaar would remain closed.
Entry has been strictly prohibited on the Kor Qila-Khargi to Jandola road, which extends from Tank district to the South Waziristan border, including Jandola Bazaar.
Officials said only emergency travel would be allowed, subject to prior approval from police or security forces and verification of identity documents. Residents were asked to stop vehicles 50 meters before approaching security checkpoints and ensure all passengers disembark. Violations will result in legal action.
In another incident in Bannu, unidentified terrorists abducted three brothers from a mosque in Sokrri Hassan Khel during Taraweeh prayers on Wednesday evening, Cantt police station SHO Wajidur Rehman said.
Police said around 10 to 12 armed men entered the mosque and took the brothers to an undisclosed location.
The abducted men were identified as Saeed Akhtar, an employee of the commissioner’s office; Constable Amjad of the SDW Elite Force; and Constable Hazratullah of the SDW Commissioners Brigade.
The incident triggered panic in the area as residents urged the district administration and law enforcement agencies to ensure their immediate and safe recovery.
Early Thursday morning, the bodies of the three were found on Airport Road in Bannu, near Marwat Canal Road, near Bannu Airport. The bodies were found lying by the side of the road.
After completing the legal formalities, the bodies were shifted to the district headquarters hospital for post-mortem. Police said a search operation was underway to find the attackers and the third brother.
Separately, a drone strike was reported at Shamazan Kot Government High School in Miami Kabul Khel area of Tehsil Shewa in North Waziristan on Wednesday evening, the district administration said.
A drone strike was reported at Shamazan Kot Government High School in Miami Kabul Khel area of Tehsil Shewa, North Waziristan PHOTO: EXPRESS
A drone strike was reported at Shamazan Kot Government High School in Miami Kabul Khel area of Tehsil Shewa, North Waziristan PHOTO: EXPRESS
Local sources said the drone hit the school premises; however, no casualties were reported. Authorities have not released further details regarding the strike.
