BAJAUR: A terrorist blew himself up during a search operation by the security forces in a remote locality of Nawagai tehsil of the Bajaur tribal district, sources said on Tuesday.

They said the terrorist reportedly wearing a suicide vest set it off when the security forces closed in on him during an intelligence-based operation in Saidashah area near the Thangi Bazaar on Monday evening.

The sources did not share further details of the killed terrorist, adding the forces also launched a search operation in the region. However, no arrests were reported.

The security forces had also killed two militant commanders during an operation in Salarzai tehsil about two weeks ago.

The terrorists belonged to the militant Islamic State group.

ACTION AGAINST POWER THIEVES: The Tribal Electric Supply Company (Tesco) has launched action against the power thieves, sources in the company said on Tuesday.

They said the action was launched to curb the illegal practice of ‘double and triple connections’ in the urban parts of the district.

The sources said the Tesco officials involved in allowing illegal connections would be punished.

An official of the company said scores of double and triple electricity connections had been disconnected during the operation launched on Monday.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS CLOSED: The owners of private educational institutions in Bajaur tribal district have agreed to close the schools as per the government policy to stem the spread of Covid-19.

The government had ordered closure of all the educational institutions across the country on Nov 26.

The development came after talks between the leaders of both factions of the All Bajaur Private Schools Association and officials of the district administration at a meeting chaired by assistant commissioner Fazal Raheem.

The officials criticised the management of the private educational institutions for not following the government decision to close all the institutions on Nov 26 to keep the students and teachers safe from Covid-19.

The officials warned that serious action would be taken against the owners if they continued to keep the schools open.

The private schools’ representatives assured the officials of closing all the institutions from today (Tuesday).

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2020