PESHAWAR: A military officer had a narrow escape on Saturday when terrorists exploded an improvised explosive device on the roadside in Hayatabad Township here.

The local police said the blast occurred near Zarghoni Masjid when Frontier Corps Colonel Farhan of Tal Scouts passed by the place along with his family in a double cabin vehicle.

They said the military officer’s vehicle was damaged in the blast but he and his family members remained unhurt.

The police said the explosive device was planted on the roadside and detonated by remote control.

They said in the recent past, several terrorist activities had taken place in the area frequented by law-enforcement agencies.

The police said few weeks ago, a terrorist was killed while planting a bomb.

“We blocked all exit points of the area before beginning an operation in the area to search for those behind the attack and their aides,” an official of the Hayatabad police station said. The police said they had yet to register an FIR of the bomb blast as they were busy investigating the case.

Also in the day, the police beefed up security in Peshawar cantonment areas over a security alert by deploying additional contingents of personnel on the main roads and intersections. The shops located near FC headquarters were also closed for security reasons.

Tight security checks were also put in place near the headquarters of Frontier Constabulary, while the movement of vehicles was suspended on one section of Sher Shah Soori Road for some hours to avert untoward incident.

An official of the East Cantonment police station said there were reports about a possible attack on law-enforcement agencies and sensitive installations.

“We’ve received information about the entry of an explosives laden vehicle with official number plate but there is also information about the imminent attack by terrorists. Depsite We are prepared to face any such challenge,” he said.

Similarly, another official of the Cantonment circle said auto-shops near the FC Plaza remained closed due to security threats.

He said security arrangements had been made by deploying additional personnel of the Elite Force to avert any eventuality.

“We have also deployed policemen in plainclothes along the railways track to keep vigilance on the movement of suspected persons and inform the quick response force timely,” he said.

The official said several suspected people and Afghan nationals living illegally had been arrested during a search and strike operation in Gulberg localities and recovered one Kalashnikov and four pistols from their possession.

JEWELLERY SHOP LOOTED: A jewellery shop was looted on Hospital Road near Lady Reading Hospital on Saturday and escaped.

The shop owner said robbers took away jewellery and cash valuing millions of rupees.

Jewellers later took out a rally on GT Road.

Nine protesters suffered injuries when an auto-rickshaw accidently dragged a razor-wire.

Protesters later dispersed peacefully when Peshawar SSP (operations) Dr Mian Saeed showed up and assured them of the immediate action against robbers.

He also said the police would provide full security to jewellers.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play