80 martyred, 140 injured in two FC Fort suicide explosions

PESHAWAR (APP): At least 80 persons were martyred including 69 FC men and 11 civilian and 140 others were injured in two suicide blasts in front of the main gate of Frontier Constabulary Training Centre in Tehsil Shabqadar, Charsadda on Friday morning.

According to DPO Nisar Marwat at around 5.50 am, the newly passed out recruits were returning to their native towns after completing their eight months training on a 10-day leave when they were intercepted by two suicide attacks.First, a donkey-cart laden with explosive material went off suddenly where the vehicles were parked to carry the recruits while second explosion occurred 10 minute later when the relief activities were in progress.

Medical Superintendent Rahim Jan Afridi also confirmed that 140 were brought to Lady Ready Hospital, 40 were in critical condition.

He said that all the injured were shifted to different wards as emergency was declared in the hospital and the medical staffs are providing all available facilities to the blast injured.

Bashir Ahmed Bilour, senior minister for Khyber Paktunkhwa province, said 80 people had been killed, including 69 FC men and 11 civilians, making it the deadliest attack since July 9, 2010 when bombers killed 105 people in Mohmand Agency.

Doctors in LRH hospital said they were struggling to save the lives of more than 40 critically wounded paramilitary force and had declared a state of emergency to cope with the scale of the casualties.

District Police Officer (DPO), Charsadda, Nisar Marwat said that the first explosion was occurred in donkey-cart and when the rescue workers gathered for relief work a motorcyclist rammed himself into the vehicles parked near the training centre," According to bomb disposal squad 16 kilograms of explosive material has been used in both explosions.

The recruits had recently completed their 8-month training and were going on leave to their home towns.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Jehanzeb Khan said that that after the first blast, the personnel of the FC rushed to the spot to shift the injured, when suddenly another suicide attack was occurred when a motorcyclist ramped into the vehicles parked near the entry gate of the fort. After the incident security forces cordoned off the area and sealed the bazaar besides launching search operation.

SSP Operation Peshawar, Ijaz Ahmad Khan Friday said that security tightened here soon after the bomb blast in Tehsil Shafqadar as 1800 policemen were deputed at different sensitive places including mosques, Imam Bargahs in order to avoid any untoward incidence.

He said the officials at different check post entry and exit points have been directed to keep a vigilant eye on any suspected persons and vehicles.

Among the victims, 15 recruits hailed from Orakzai Agency and 12 of Kachi Qasim area of Kohat. They were identified as Kifayatullah, Muhammad Shoaib, Muhammad Amin, Alif Sher, Zobta Musti, Ihsaf, Muhammad Zareen, Fazal-e-Amin, Ahmad khan, Ajmal Khan, Muhammad Hayat, Siraj Ali, Yasin (Orakzai Agency), Subahan, Tariq, Sarfaraz, Muhammad Zaman, Wajid, Samandar Khan, Siraj Ali, (Hangu), Qaiser Abbas, with injured persons hailing from Orakzai Agency including Umar Zaman. The recruits were also buried in their native villages with all military honor.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Railways, Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour has strongly condemned Shabqadar bomb blasts which claimed around 80 precious lives and injured 140 others.

Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour said Shabqadar twin suicide attacks targeting young recruits of Frontier Constabulary is height of brutality shown by militants. He said such incidents expose the mentality of terrorists who does not spare anyone for the attainment of their nefarious designs.

Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour said through conducting such incidents of terrorism, the militants cannot succeed in deterring government' stance of complete elimination of militancy from the country.

"Our resolve is intact and we will continue to render sacrifices for attainment of the goal of purging our soil from such elements bent upon pushing the country and nation to backwardness," he remarked.

Ghulam Bilour also extended his feeling of grief and sorrow to the family members of the victims. He said it's a great loss for the nation that about 80 persons, mostly young security officials, died. He held out assurance to the bereaved families that the heirs will be awarded complete compensation as decided by the government for security personnel.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011

Posted in: Pakistan