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Hundreds flee Bara after Mangal's radio warning
[Dawn] Hundreds of Bara residents left their houses on Friday in compliance of a warning from the leader of a banned militant outfit to move to safer places before the last day of Eidul Fitr festivities, sources said.Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) chief Mangal Bagh warned in a broadcast over his illegal FM radio station from an undisclosed location this morning, that people should take cover as his armed outfit was about to retaliate the military operation in Bara and would not be responsible for any damage caused after expiry of the 'deadline'. He, however, did not say what from the retaliation by Lashkar-i-Islam against the ongoing military operation in Bara would take. Earlier he had said that his private miltia would not resist the operation in the area. It is learnt that traders and shopkeepers of Bara bazaar have shifted their merchandise to safer places and locked their shops. Meanwhile the security forces destroyed two arms shops and two music outlets selling jihadi songs. Lashkar-i-Islam had earlier imposed a complete ban on the sale of all types of music cassettes and CDs throughout Bara tehsil. Meanwhile, locals found the bullet-riddled body of Wahid son of Hanan in Jamrud Khwar area. The deceased was kidnapped by Lashkar activists a day earlier from Shalobar. A chit found with the dead body said that opponents of the Lashkar-i-Islam would meet the same fate if found assisting the security forces. In Bara tehsil, security forces on Thursday had defused two high intensity explosive devices at Duran Talao area. Officials said that the devices were detonated after getting information from residents. Security forces also carried out an extensive search operation in Kohi and Naway Kamar areas. Officials claimed that they were getting useful information and assistance from locals against the militants. The FC media cell had earlier appealed the locals to help security forces in their operation against militants. Meanwhile, the Landi Kotal political administration imposed ban on firing in the air on festive occasions. A written order issued from the office of the assistant political agent and circulated among the area elders said that nobody would be allowed to fire in the air on any occasion of celebration. It warned that violators would be sent to jail. Residents of Landi Kotal were also directed to avoid coming out of their homes at night unless necessary. Officials said that the restrictions had been imposed keeping in view the law and order situation in the region. The Khasadar force in the meantime demolished the house of an alleged outlaw Zafar Iqbal in Zakhakhel area. He was reportedly involvement in murder cases. A brother of the accused, Khalid Amin, was also taken into custody. Posted by: Fred 2009-09-20 |
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