Five more schools blown up in Swat
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
By Musa Khankhel
MINGORA: Suspected militants blew up five schools, including two girls, in Mingora city overnight while the deputy chief of Swat militants threatened the editor and staff of a local newspaper with action for publishing a story against them.
Also, a convoy of security forces was attacked with improvised explosive device (IED) in Shin area, but no casualty was reported in the incident.
The militants blew up the Government High School No 1 and Government Primary School No 1 Banr, Government Girls’ High School and Government Girls Primary School in Tahirabad and a middle school in Angordherai.
The blasts destroyed the buildings of these schools, besides damaging the nearby houses and shops. The attacks came in the wake of expiry of deadline for closing down all government and private girls’ schools.
Though all schools are closed in the valley due to winter vacation, the militants went ahead with their agenda and destroyed girls’ schools. It was also reported that some people looted the belongings of the destroyed schools.
In another development, Shah Dauran, the deputy chief of Swat Taliban, threatened the chief editor and staff of Shamal, a local newspaper, for carrying a story against the militants. Senior journalist and chief editor of the paper Ghulam Farooq and his staff were threatened with action for publishing a news report against the banned militant organisation.
The outspoken cleric also allegedly used words in a derisive manner against journalists. The journalist community of the valley expressed shock and anger over the use of threatening language by Shah Dauran against them.
Media persons in the militancy-ravaged Swat Valley have been under attack since the start of violence there.Three journalists, including Sirajuddin, Azizuddin and Qari Shoaib have been killed so far. In addition, Sherinzada’s sister was killed when his house was attacked while another journalist working for an English daily was manhandled by security forces.
Meanwhile, a roadside bomb blast missed its target — a convoy of the security forces — in Shin area of the valley. Injuries to two soldiers were reported in the incident. A press release of the ISPR said the forces did not suffer any casualty in the attack.
The rumours about the presence of a suicide bomber continued to keep people away from the premises of district courts for third consecutive day. Meanwhile, curfew from Manglawar was lifted on Monday.
APP adds: the situation in restive Hangu district is returning fast to normalcy as educational institutions, government and semi government offices were reopened here on Monday.
DPO Sajjad Khan told APP that situation has returned to normalcy after the 13-day unrest in the volatile district and curfew has been relaxed from 8am to 5pm where great rush of buyers were seen in bazaars and shopping malls.
Khan said police and other law-enforcement agencies were patrolling in sensitive areas for maintaining law and order and protecting lives and properties of the law-abiding citizens. The bypass road has been reopened for traffic while ban on entry of light vehicles has been lifted. The DPO Hangu said the people of Shia and Sunni sects, who were living on both sides of the Kohat-Hangu road, have accepted responsibilities of its security.
He said that meeting of the grand Jirga comprises elders of Shia and Sunni had been postponed till January 26. Meanwhile, unknown gunmen attacked a police post at Mamon Khwar area late on Sunday night that was retailed by the police. Resultantly, three attackers and a cop sustained injuries, said the DPO Hangu.
The militants fled from the scene by taking advantage of darkness and also took away their injured co-accomplices along with them. He said a hand grenade, arms and other belonging left by militants have been recovered. He said that the police were in state of high alert and no compromise would be made on the government’s writ.
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