PESHAWAR, Jan 12: Masked armed militants on Wednesday blew up a 132 KV grid station in Matani, a suburban locality of Peshawar, causing suspension of power supply to 12 feeders in parts of Peshawar district and Frontier Region.

An official of the Matani police told Dawn that they rushed to the spot after two huge blasts were heard at about 2am early on Wednesday, but the terrorists had escaped. He said that five employees of Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) were present at the grid station at the time of incident.

“We have tightened security and deployed more policemen in the area, but so far no accused has been arrested,” the official said and added that the area was located close to the tribal region and militants could easily move without any restrictions. He said that keeping in view the limited resources with police it seemed quite difficult to check their movement and eradiate such sabotage acts.

An official of the bomb disposal unit said that two blasts had occurred in which about 10 kg of explosive material was used.

Pesco spokesman Shaukat Afzal said that dozens of masked armed militants attacked the 132 KV grid station and damaged its control room by detonating explosives.

He said that the militants also heavily beat up the staff of the control room.

“He said that as a result of the blast the control room had collapsed and 11 KV panels and other expensive equipment were damaged. Also, power supply was suspended to feeders of New College, Old Azakhel, New Azakhel, Old Matani, New Matani, Hassan Khel, Mera Akakhel, Telaband, Kalakhel, Darwazgai, Zaho and Dara Akhorwal.

Pesco chief executive Muhammad Wali and chief engineer Shahid Mehmood Khan visited the site of the blast and constituted a task force to estimate the losses and immediately start rehabilitation work for the restoration of electricity.

Local residents, including Qadir Khan and Zawar Khan, said that the area was already facing prolonged power outages and damage to the grid station had compounded their problems. Head of Adezai Qaumi Lashkar Dilawar Khan said that prolonged power outages would benefit militants who often carry out their activities in night time.

“Most of the sabotage acts in the past have occurred during loadshedding as saboteurs can easily disappear in areas around the villages,” he said and added that the anti-Taliban volunteers were already doing night duties and they would have to remain alert.