RAWALPINDI: Officials from the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Sunday visited the site of an explosion in Pirwadhai and examined the surrounding areas besides collecting evidence.

The blast site preserved by the Rawalpindi police since Friday was handed over to the CTD investigators with a digital video recorder (DVR) containing footage. The DVR was installed outside the general store where the blast occurred.

The CTD has registered an FIR under relevant sections of the law and formally launched the investigation into the blast which was the fourth such incident in the garrison city so far this year.

According to sources close to the investigation, besides a crater, the investigators also found signs of a hole in a nullah located four to five feet away from the crater which they suspected was a ‘mine type improvised explosive device’ planted outside the store.

The owner of the general store was alone and sitting on the floor when the explosion occurred but he remained unhurt. The investigators also observed explosion effects on the store and surrounding structures.

They believed that they would trace the culprits very soon with the help of CCTV and DVR footage. They are also investigating some suspects.

The improvised device went off outside the general store on Friday leaving one person dead and seven others injured. Two of the injured are being treated in Holy Family Hospital while the remaining were discharged after first aid.

Four such blasts have been reported in the garrison city so far this year in which three people died and 30 others injured. But the CTD has been unable to trace the culprits involved in the blasts.

The district administration of Rawalpindi had intimated the police, Special Branch, the district officer of the CTD and other relevant authorities on Dec 2, citing intelligence that there was a terrorism threat.

It had asked them to take extreme vigilance and foolproof security at all levels to avoid any untoward incident.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2020