BATKHELA: Three women victims of the Bajaur roadside blast were laid to rest in their hometowns in Malakand protected area amid moving scenes here on Tuesday.

Ms Tabena, daughter of Jannat Gul, her 6-year old niece, Mah Rukh, daughter of Imtiaz of Kot Maina, and Salma, daughter of Syed Bacha of Thana, were among the six victims of the remote-controlled blast in Salarzai tehsil of Bajaur Agency earlier on Tuesday.

The bodies of Tabenda and Mah Rukh were dispatched to their hometown in Kot Maina, some 50km from Batkhela. A large number of local people, relatives, friends and will-wishers participated in the funeral rituals. Salma Bibi was also buried at her ancestral graveyard in Korona area of Thana town.

The three female teachers along with two children and driver were going from Khar to Thangi area in an official van for attending to duty in a girls’ school run by a non-governmental organisation when their vehicle was targeted with a remote controlled bomb.

The other victims were identified as Sameera Bibi of Mardan, her 5-year-old nephew Abbas, and driver Liaq Shah, resident of Inam Kor Chinagi area of Mamond tribal region.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2014