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Published 07 Nov, 2010 12:00am

Toll in Darra mosque attack rises to 68

KOHAT, Nov 6 Two teams set up to investigate Friday's suicide attack on a mosque in Darra Adamkhel started their work on Saturday.

Officials told Dawn that personnel of the Federal Investigation Agency, Military Intelligence, Inter-Services Intelligence and political administration would take part in the investigation.

The official death toll rose to 68 on Saturday after three people injured the previous day died. But local people claimed that at least 85 people were killed in the attack.

A case has been registered against unknown terrorists.

It may be mentioned that Tariq Afridi, the chief of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Khyber Agency, and a group led by Momin Khan Afridi have fought several battles for the control of Darra Adamkhel in the past.

The group, backed by the government, had in 2008 formed Islami Taliban Momin Afridi Group to flush out the TTP.

The group also enjoyed the support of six tribes in its stance against Tariq Afridi when the latter's men started closing hashish shops and CD markets, targeting girls' schools and extorting money from rich tribesmen and parliamentarians.

The hujra in the mosque attacked on Friday remained the headquarters of the Islami Taliban for sometime.

Momin Afridi moved to South Waziristan two years ago when the TTP started attacks against him and his men in Hangu, Thall and Orakzai Agency.

At present, Nasrullah of Mullah Khel tribe heads the group in Darra Adamkhel.

Tariq Afridi and his men have also left Darra Adamkhel and moved to Khyber and Orakzai agencies.

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