Militants hand over bodies of 16 troops

HANGU - The alleged Taliban militants have handed over 16 dead bodies of the Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel to the administration here on Sunday. "We have received 16 dead bodies of the FC personnel who were killed in Taliban attack," confirmed a local MPA Mufti Janan Bangash.

He said that the administration also received one injured soldier whereas a soldier who got shelter was also brought to Hangu.

He said that these FC personnel were killed during clashes erupted after a convoy of the security forces was attacked near Zargari area. "Two militants have also been killed in the attack," he added.

Dead bodies, which were handed over by militants to the jirga members, consisted of a District Officer of FC Captain Karim Khan Khattak, two Junior Commissioned Officers, five head constables, two lance naiks, one naik and four sepoys. The jirga members reached Zargari on Sunday where they received bodies of the FC personnel from militants.

Meanwhile, curfew has been imposed in Dwaba area where the alleged Taliban militants, according to officials, have taken shelter.

While situation is still tense in Hangu. The main Bazaar presents a deserted look. There was no traffic on the area's roads. Both Kurram and Aurakzai agencies are disconnected from rest of the country. There is acute shortage of edible items in the area. A large number of families are fleeing towards safe places.

Mufti Janan Bangash to a question termed the situation as very tense and urged both sides for entering into dialogue without any further delay.

Agencies add: A missile was fired from Paktia province of Afghanistan in the area of Angoor Adda on Sunday morning which created panic among the people.

The missile fell in the deserted area of Angoor Adda and no report of loss of life and material damage has been received so far.

On the other hand, the US spy planes flew over Kurram Agency. They made low flights over the areas of lower and upper Kurram Agency. The people came out of houses due to the fear of air strikes.

The people of the area demanded of the government to take up the matters with US over space violations and save their lives from enemy forces.

Meanwhile, two FC personnel sustained injuries in firing and hand-grenade attack on a police mobile van at Timergara area in Lower Dir district on Sunday morning, the police said.

Unknown gunmen fired volley of bullets and hurled hand grenades at a mobile van of Balambut police station when it was on routine patrolling in the area.

Resultantly, FC Jawans Qayyum and Muhammad Shafi received critical wounds and were shifted to Timergara hospital.

The outlaws managed to escape by taking advantage of darkness.

Soon after the incident, the police cordoned off the area and started search operation.