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| India-Pakistan |
| Marwan al-Suri now viewed as martyr by Bajaur tribesmen |
| 2006-05-03 |
| Marwan Hadid Al-Suri, a top Al Qaeda militant who was killed last month in a shootout with security forces in the Pakistani tribal belt of Bajaur Agency, is fast attaining the status of a martyr among tribesmen. In Duzakhshah village of Bajaur where Marwan was killed April 20, most of the tribesmen lamented the death of this militant from Saudi Arabia. They said Marwan was trapped in the village before he was shot dead. Some tribesmen, however, claimed that the Al Qaeda militant shot himself in the head when he discovered his escape was impossible and his arrest was imminent. Fearing his arrest might lead to the capture of some leading Al Qaeda and Taliban figures, he killed himself after reading Kalma-e-Shahadat, or prayers of martyrdom, thrice, according to some villagers. After his death, the tribesmen have started revering him as a hero who preferred death rather than compromising principles. Mosques and madrassas here aired messages on loudspeakers asking all to condemn the killing of the mujahid, or holy warrior, and some clerics even warned the incident would invite god's wrath in this area soon. Some said the place where Marwan laid down his life was emitting sweet smell and many were taking away parts of the soil. According to the tribesmen, father of a soldier, who was killed in the gun battle that Marwan had with the security forces, did not receive the body of his son, saying he had brought a bad name to him and his family. The soldier's funeral prayers were offered only by a few tribesmen, though some clerics advised against performing final rituals of this "sinner". Meanwhile, a pro-government tribal elder was found dead after being kidnapped from a tribal area bordering Afghanistan, officials said Monday. The body of Janat Mir, 55, was found early Monday near Dharaki village, some 25 km east of Miranshah, the main town of the restive North Waziristan Agency (NWA), a local official said. Unidentified gunmen Friday kidnapped Mir from the volatile Mir Ali town, an official said on condition of anonymity. Mir had been shot near his chest but his body also showed signs of him being strangled, he said, adding that militants had accused him of spying for the government. Mir was among the 28 tribal elders, prayer leaders and social workers that had received death threats in June last year. Pro-Taliban militants have beheaded several people suspected of spying for the US and killed around 150 pro-government tribesmen in both North and South Waziristan. According to forces, nine months of fierce clashes in NWA have claimed the lives of 324 pro-Taliban "miscreants" - including 76 foreign fighters - 56 soldiers and a "small number" of civilians. The worst was the battle of Miranshah, four days of fighting in March in which up to 1,500 Islamic insurgents took over key buildings, during a visit to Islamabad by US President George W. Bush. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |