Curfew imposed in Jandola; school hit by drone in North Waziristan, no injuries reported
DERA ISMAIL KHAN:
A security personnel was martyred in a drone strike on a checkpoint in Tank district, while three abducted brothers were found dead in Bannu and a separate 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 Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district late on Wednesday evening, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), KP – Dera Ismail Khan region, said in an official statement.
According to CTD, the attack took place at approximately 01:30 AM in Kiri Haider village within the limits of Police Station SMA. Terrorists described as “Fitna-Al-Khawarij” used a quadcopter to throw two explosive rounds at the checkpoint.
Fitna-Al-Khawarij is the state-designated term for the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
The CTD said security forces secured the post and the surrounding area after the attack. Naik Nadeem sustained critical injuries due to the impact of the explosives and later succumbed to his wounds.
Further details regarding any damage or possible terrorist damage were awaited, the department said, adding that the information was disseminated late due to network problems in the area.
“Surveillance and surveillance operations are underway,” CTD said.
Authorities imposed a curfew in the Jandola subdivision of Tank on February 26 from 06.00 to 19.00. Officials said all movement would remain suspended during the curfew and Jandola Bazaar would remain closed.
Access has been strictly prohibited on the Kor Qila–Khargi to Jandola route, which stretches from the Tank District to the South Waziristan border, including Jandola Bazaar.
Officials said only emergency travel would be allowed, subject to prior approval from the police or security forces and verification of identification documents. Residents have been instructed to stop vehicles 50 meters before approaching the security checkpoint and ensure that all passengers disembark. Violations will result in legal action.
In a separate 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 about 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 SDW Elite Force; and Constable Hazratullah of the SDW Commissioner Squad.
The incident triggered panic in the area with residents urging the district administration and law enforcement agencies to ensure their immediate and safe recovery.
Early Thursday morning, the bodies of all three were recovered from Airport Road in Bannu, near Marwat Canal Road, close to Bannu Airport. The bodies were found lying on the side of the road.
After the legal formalities were completed, the bodies were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem. Police said a search was on for the attackers and the third brother.
Separately, a drone strike was reported on Government High School Shamazan Kot in Miami Kabul Khel area of Tehsil Shewa in North Waziristan late on Wednesday evening, the district administration said.
A drone strike was reported at Government High School Shamazan Kot in Miami Kabul Khel area of Tehsil Shewa in North Waziristan PHOTO: EXPRESS
A drone strike was reported at Government High School Shamazan Kot in Miami Kabul Khel area of Tehsil Shewa in North Waziristan PHOTO: EXPRESS
Local sources said the drone hit the school grounds; however, no injuries were reported. Authorities have not released further details about the strike.
