Three students injured in Upper Dir IED blast

DIR: Three students were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in the remote Doog Darra in Upper Dir district on Tuesday.

Police sources said that unidentified terrorists had planted an IED near the Government Primary School, Salam Bekai, to target the school and students. Sources said that when students lined up for morning assembly some of the students and school staff saw smoke billowing near the school gate.

The teachers asked the students to run away from the school building and they started leaving the premises. The sources said the IED went off, injuring three students. Most of the students and school staff escaped unhurt.

The injured students were taken to the Rural Health Centre in Sheringal.The area was cordoned off after the explosion. A search operation was started, but no arrest could be made. District Police Officer (DPO) Athar Waheed said that the police had received information a few days back that education institutions could be targetted in Doog Darra.

He said the schools managements in the area had been asked to make security arrangements.  It may be mentioned that Doog Darra was a stronghold of the Taliban in 2009 but they were flushed out by the security forces.

A remote-controlled blast also took place on July, 18, this year when a vehicle was targeted in which seven people were killed. District Education Officer Moinuddin also confirmed that three students were injured in the blast. He said all the schools in the vicinity had been closed for an indefinite period.