Investigators believe Chitral explosives theft insider’s job

PESHAWAR: Investigators probing the reported theft of around 500 kilograms of explosives from a South Korean company's godowns in Chitral suspect the involvement of an insider in the case, a source told The News.  Apart from the police, a joint investigation team of different intelligence agencies are probing the theft of a huge quantity of explosives in Chitral, known as a peaceful district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.  The officials of Sambu, the South Korean firm working on a hydropower project in Chitral, lodged the first information report (FIR) last week, saying 550 kilograms of explosives were missing from their warehouse. The complainant, however, could not explain as to when and how the material went missing.  Since the filing of the report, the police and intelligence agencies have been working on the case to find out whether the militants are behind the theft or not. "The Sambu officials have done their audit of the missing explosives. They now say 425 kilograms of explosives is missing, not 550 kilograms," Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Malakand Range Akhtar Hayat Gandapur told The News.  The police officer said there was no confirmation as to when the incident happened as it might have taken place months ago or in series of events. He said the matter was divulged to police authorities six days back and since then a joint investigation team of the law-enforcement agencies is probing it. "As nobody has intruded into the compound and the material wasn't forcibly snatched, the chances of inside facilitation are rather high," said Akhtar Hayat Gandapur. The Sambu company is working on the hydropower projects in Chitral Valley in support of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda). The company uses explosives for mining, digging and other purposes. It also had the contract of the Lowari Tunnel project.  "We have provided 30 to 40 policemen to the company but this is the responsibility of Wapda to make proper security arrangements. We cannot deploy policemen at every project," Chitral District Police Officer (DPO) Abdur Rashid Khan told The News.  About the possibility of militants' involvement in the theft, the DPO said that it was premature to say something at the moment as investigations are underway. Explosives are normally used in Chitral for mining as well as construction of roads, buildings and irrigation channels.  The DPO believed that there was no evidence yet in Chitral regarding the involvement of locals in militancy. "There were militant attacks from across the border and also from the nearby Bajaur Agency and Dir. As far as the local elements are concerned, we have not found any such activities here," said Abdur Rashid. Militants from across the border in Afghanistan shattered the peaceful environment in Chitral when they attacked a security post in the border village of Arandu in August last year, killing at least 26 security personnel.  Another attack took place in December 2011 when five security personnel were wounded. Two soldiers kidnapped from Chitral were later found beheaded during the same month. The situation, however, seems to have improved during the last couple of months following fresh deployment of security forces in the border areas of Chitral as no attack has taken place during the current year. http://www.thenews.com.pk/PrintEdition.aspx?ID=94029&Cat=7&dt=3/4/2012