 |
| |
WEEKLY
SECTIONS |
 |
|
 |
| Bajaur Agency drone strike toll rises to 33 |
|
|
|
Monday, October 26, 2009
Our correspondent
KHAR: The death toll in Saturday’s US drone attack in Bajaur Agency rose to 33 when 13 wounded persons succumbed to their injuries on Sunday.
Sources in Damadola area, located less than 10 kilometres from Bajaur’s headquarters, Khar, said the injured persons died on the way to clinics. They said six more wounded persons were in critical condition and there were fears that the death toll could rise further.
The US drones had fired three missiles at a bunker used by militants near Choutra village in Damadola area. Initial reports said 20 persons were killed and dozens others were injured in the strike. Most of the injured were in serious condition at the time and weren’t expected to survive.
The pilot-less US Predator planes were again seen flying over parts of Mamond area, which includes Damadola, on Sunday. This caused fear among the people, as they were worried that another drone strike could take place.
Tribal sources in Damadola said a militants’ commander named Minhaj and three common militants Ehsanullah, Umar Hayat and Gul Bahadur were among those killed. There were reports that three Uzbek militants were also among those killed. The tribal militants were still digging the site of the blast to recover bodies and body parts. They were facing problems to retrieve the bodies and remove the debris due to rudimentary means at their possible and also on account of the fear of US drones flying in the area.
The missiles were fired at a bunker where militants led by Maulana Faqir Muhammad, deputy head of the Hakimullah Mahsud-headed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), were going to hold a secret meeting. The sources said most of those killed were militants, though members of the media and government officials couldn’t go to the site of the attack due to insecurity to ascertain facts. The information about the casualties was obtained from villagers and tribal sources in the area. Independent sources weren’t available to confirm the number of deaths and identities of those slain and injured.
Maulana Faqir Muhammad reportedly survived the attack as he had left the place before the missiles struck the bunker. Earlier, there were reports that his nephew and son-in-law were killed in the attack but this piece of information couldn’t be confirmed. The sources said funerals of 18 slain men had been held at one place and the dead were then buried.
|
|
|
| Back
| Send
this story to Friend | Print
Version |
|
|
|
ISSN 1563-9479 
