KP takes respite from terror incidents

PESHAWAR: The incidents of terror attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the first four months of the year are the lowest in the last four years mostly because of the military operations in Fata and the actions by police and Counter Terrorism Department in the province, officials said on Tuesday.
During the first four months of the current year, 85 terrorist incidents took place compared to 183 in 2014, 173 in 2013 and 134 in 2012. “The modus operandi analysis shows that 37 incidents of IED took place during the year compared to 97 in 2014, 114 in 2013 and 83 in 2012. Similarly, during the current year two suicide attacks were carried out compared to six in 2014 and 10 in 2013,” said an official while quoting the statistics of the Central Police Office.
The officials said the hand-grenade attacks and target killings also recorded sharp decrease as 13 incidents of hurling grenades were registered compared to 26 last year. Also, the number of target killings reduced to 33 compared to 45 last year.
“The casualties that took place during the current year are the lowest in the last four years. During the current year six persons have been killed and 104 injured compared to 194 killings while injuries to 511 others in 2014,” the official added.
Inspector General of Police Nasir Khan Durrani appreciated the performance of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) particularly its head Salahuddin Khan as the force took proactive action against terrorists and hardened criminals all over KP.
The DIG CTD briefed the IGP about the progress made by the department in the first four months of the year. Presently, all incidents of terrorism are handled by CTD that was established in KP last year.
Now the CTD not only register the cases, but also investigate and apprehend the culprits. Seven CTD police stations have been established all over the province at all the regional headquarters.
The CTD arrested many key militants and solved many important cases in the recent past. The CTD with the help of the Intelligence Bureau arrested the accused behind the suicide bombing in Islamabad courts.
The KP Police have recovered 6,649 arms and 280.575 kilogram explosives during the current year. The Peshawar police succeeded in unearthing a factory involved in manufacturing of improvised explosive devices. The police recovered 720 kilogram explosives, 80 kilogram liquid explosives, 72 bundles of detonating cords, 48 fuses and 11 packets of remote control devices from the factory.