Posted on 06/30/2008 2:30:50 PM PDT by milestogo
By Sher Khan Afridi submitted 27 minutes ago
BARA (Khyber Agency) - Amidst operation against what the authorities call criminals and miscreants, a mysterious missile hit the base of one of the religious groups near Bara town of Khyber Agency in early hours on Monday, killing at least nine persons and injuring around 15 others including a woman.
All the killed were stated to be tribesmen from scattered areas of Khyber Agency.
So far no one has claimed the responsibility for the missile attack against the base of the religious group but its spokesman blamed the NATO forces camping across the border in Afghanistan, for the act. The base of Amar Bil Maroof Wa Nahi Anel Munkar (Voice and Virtue) headed by Haji Namdar at the fortress having many portions like the house of Hakeem Shah at Jan Khan Keley in the area, dominated by tribesmen from Bar Qambarkhel clan of Afridi tribe, was hit by a mysterious missile in early hours on Monday. At the time of missile attack, its dwellers were preparing themselves for offering prays, the spokesman remarked.
As per details, the Amar Bil Maroof, one of three religious rival groups operating in Bara region of Khyber Agency has established its centre in the house of Hakeem Shah. The spokesman of the Tanzeem Amar Bil Maroof Wa Nahi Anel Munkar informed that the base was used for sheltering of his group Mujahideen. He informed that around 3.45 a.m. first they sighted a flame in the air, which was later on followed by a huge explosion. The flame, he added, came from Afghanistan, where the NATO forces are camping. Based on these grounds, he blamed the NATO forces for such an attack.
The mysterious missile targeted the house of Hakeem Shah destroying its several portions. A number of rooms and portions of the house were razed to the ground whereas the remaining parts were damaged very badly. The damaged complex also included a prison or torture cell in its basement. A number of prisoners were locked in the cell when the missile attack took place and three of them were reportedly killed and several others injured.
The spokesman claimed that six persons were killed and seven others injured in the attack, whereas the local tribesmen informed that nine persons were killed and 15 others injured. The six killed persons were identified as Ibrahim and Arif from Zakhakhel tribe, Gul Wali, Mohammad Nawaz, Faulad Khan and Sagheer Khan from Bar Qambarkhel area of Bara. Five of the injured were admitted in Peshawar hospital whereas 10 of the injured were attended in the Civil Hospital Dogra, Bara and were discharged after giving them first aid. The injured who are still under treatment included Shaukat, Sulaiman, Noor Habib, Yaqoob and a woman.
The missile attack first-ever of its kind resulted in widespread unrest amongst the tribesmen from all over the Khyber Agency, where the security forces are engaged in an operation against the alleged criminals and miscreants for the last three days. Without any resistance, the security forces succeeded in demolishing the bases of the rival religious groups particularly occupied by activists of Lashkar Islam headed by Mangal Bagh. The security forces also succeeded in taking back four check posts of the traditional Khasadar forces from the militants in the area.
On the third day of the operation, main bazaars and several shopping centers were reopened at Bara town and traffic also resumed on several roads. Common tribesmen who were made hostages by leaders and gun-totting stalwarts of the rival religious groups are jubilating the operation against the rival religious groups in the area, which besides Lashkar Islam of Mangal Bagh and Amar Bil Maroof of Haji Namdar also included Lashkar Ansar of Haji Mehboob.
Agencies add: At least three missiles struck the headquarters of Amar Bil Maroof Wa Nahi Aneelmunkar (Movement for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice) at Bara in Khyber Agency, where Pakistani security forces launched a crackdown on militants on Saturday.
The missiles apparently targeted Haji Namdar, the head of the religious group, but he was safe, eyewitnesses told the TV channels.
The witnesses said six to nine persons had died and several of Namdar’s close relatives were among the dead.
Haji Namdar and a security official said the house was destroyed by military action but the government said troops were not involved. The witnesses said they had seen drones flying overhead when the missile strike occurred at about 3am.
TV channels aired footage of the two-storey brick structure that was almost completely destroyed by the missile strike. The footage showed rescue workers digging through the debris to remove bodies.
An AFP photographer saw six coffins lined up outside the rubble of the house of Namdar accused of attacking convoys supplying US and NATO troops.
“It looked like a guided missile strike. It could have been the work of both Pakistani and NATO forces. We will take revenge,” Namdar told AFP at the scene in the Par Qambarkhel area, about 20 miles from the Afghan border.
But a senior security official told AFP earlier that the destruction of the house “was part of the ongoing operation. Our ground forces were involved.”
Meanwhile, reaffirming continuation of operation till achievement of objective, Ministry of Interior has banned three groups active in tribal areas for their involvement in criminal activities.
“Lashkar-e-lslam of Mangal Bagh, Ansar-ul-lslam of Mahboob-ul-Haque and Haji Namdar Group have been banned under Anti- Terrorist Act, and notification in this respect has been issued,” the sources at Interior Ministry told this news agency on Monday.
The sources said that operation had the support of local tribes and was going well with sufficient achievements. “The operation is being conducted with full ownership of the civil government and with full support of local tribes, respecting their sensitivities and redressing their insecurity, just to re-establish writ of the government,” the sources added. “The operation is also progressing well and the basic purpose has been achieved with minimum damage and without any collateral losses,” the sources added, reaffirming continuation of the operation till desired objectives are achieved.
Monitoring Desk adds: Capital City Police Officer Dr Muhammad Suleman Monday expressed satisfaction over the law and order in Peshawar and said operation would be also be launched in some parts of the city, reports a private TV channel.
Too many coffin carriers and not enough coffins.
“killing at least nine persons and injuring around 15 others including a woman”
Equal rights, buddy... like SHE was someone special...?
....go get 'em General Petraeus.
Onelife's Rules for a Happy Life #4531 - Don't live next door to terrorists.
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