Curfew imposed in Jandola; school hit by drone in North Waziristan, no casualties reported
DERA ISMAIL KHAN:
A security personnel was martyred in a drone attack on a check post 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 on Thursday.
In Tank, Naik Nadeem was martyred when terrorists targeted a security forces check post in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district late Wednesday night, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), K-P – Dera Ismail Khan Region, said in an official statement.
According to the CTD, the attack took place at approximately 1:30am in Village Kiri Haider within the limits of Police Station SMA. Terrorists described as “Fitna-Al-Khawarij” used a quadcopter to drop two explosive rounds on the check post.
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 casualties were awaited, the department said, adding that the information was conveyed late due to network issues in the area.
“Monitoring and surveillance operations are ongoing,” the CTD said.
Authorities imposed a curfew in the Jandola subdivision of Tank on February 26 from 6:00am to 7:00pm. Officials said all movement would remain suspended during the curfew and Jandola Bazaar would remain closed.
Entry has been strictly prohibited on the Kor Qila–Khargi to Jandola route, extending from Tank district to the border of South Waziristan, including Jandola Bazaar.
Officials said only emergency travel would be permitted, subject to prior approval from police or security forces and verification of identification documents. Residents have been instructed to stop vehicles 50 metres before approaching security checkpoints and ensure 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 night, said Cantt Police Station SHO Wajidur Rehman.
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 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 by the roadside.
After legal formalities were completed, the bodies were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem. Police said a search operation was underway for the attackers and the third brother.
Separately, a drone strike was reported at Government High School Shamazan Kot in the Miami Kabul Khel area of Tehsil Shewa in North Waziristan late Wednesday night, the district administration said.
A drone strike was reported at Government High School Shamazan Kot in the Miami Kabul Khel area of Tehsil Shewa in North Waziristan PHOTO: EXPRESS
A drone strike was reported at Government High School Shamazan Kot in the Miami Kabul Khel area of Tehsil Shewa in 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.
