November 26, 2007	Monday	Ziqa’ad 15, 1428

UPPER DIR, Nov 25: A bomb exploded near the Scouts’ post in Chukiatan, some 8km from here, early Sunday morning. However, a missile planted near the post did not fire.

Local people said the blast took place at 2am, causing fear among residents.

The bomb had been planted in a field near the post. There was no casualty and the post locally known as Qila was not damaged.

Police registered an FIR of the incident of the “stray missile”, but expressed ignorance about the blast. “I don’t have any information about the blast,” said an official. He said some people had phoned the police station that a ‘missile-like’ weapon was lying in the Chukiatan bazaar. When police went there, they saw some people around it. Police seized the missile and registered the FIR.

However, according to local people, the missile had been fixed on a tree, but it misfired. “The wick had been lighted but fortunately it did not fire,” a local said.

In the wake of violence in Swat, the government planned to deploy troops in Upper Dir to ward off militants, but local people resisted the move.

The government fears that militants fleeing Swat may enter Upper Dir which has so far been peaceful, and open a front in the district. Elders of the area insist that they will not allow such elements to destabilise Upper Dir.