Peace committee member killed, 8 injured in IED blast in Upper South Waziristan market

UPPER SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: One peace committee member was killed while eight others were injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in Makeen Bazaar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Upper South Waziristan district on Friday, police said.

Dera Ismail Khan Regional Police Officer (RPO) Ghulam Mubashir Makin told Dawn that the IED had been attached to a motorcycle by unidentified people. He said the device exploded at around 10:45am, injuring nine people in the busy market.

He said three peace committee members — Inayatullah, Sharat Khan and Bangi Khan — were among the nine injured in the blast.

The injured peace committee members were taken to the Razmak Hospital for further treatment, while the rest of the injured were taken to a local health facility for medical assistance, he said.

Later, Deputy Superintendent of Police Hidayatullah told Dawn that Inayatullah had died after being taken to the hospital.

Police also said that the IED blast damaged several shops in the market, destroying merchandise and other items inside. Following the explosion, police cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. Security was tightened in and around the market, while personnel conducted a search for evidence and possible suspects.

RPO Makin said police had registered a preliminary report and launched an investigation into the incident. He added that different aspects of the blast were being examined to identify those responsible.

The incident comes amid growing concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in Upper South Waziristan and Lower South Waziristan. Residents have expressed serious concern over the increasing frequency of bomb blasts, targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, extortion demands against traders and attacks on police and security forces.

On Wednesday, armed men had attacked a member of a local peace committee in the Sararogha tehsil of Upper South Waziristan. A police official was martyred in the attack, while the peace committee volunteer sustained injuries.