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Friday, March 25, 2011

13 killed, 8 injured, 21 kidnapped including officials in two separate > incidents in Kurram Agency >

PARACHINAR, March 25 : At least 13 passengers were killed and eight wounded when militants ambushed a convoy of tribesmen escorted by security forces in Bagan Town of Lower Kurram Agency on Friday.

"16 passengers along with three vehicles were kidnapped by the militants after the ambush in Bagan," official sources said.

Official sources said that militants who came in two vehicles ambushed a convoy of locals travelling from Parachinar to Peshawar, escorted by the security forces, with automatic machine guns and rocket launchers in Bagan Town.

13 passengers were killed on the spot in a Hiace and eight wounded in the ambush while two vehicles were also torched by the militants.

Local sources said that around 45 passengers were kidnapped by the militants but the official sources denied the figure of abductees.

The injured were shifted to hospital for treatment. Law enforcement agencies personnel arrived at the spot and cordoned off the entire area. In yet another incident, five persons including a contractor and four officials of irrigation department were kidnapped by militants in Madani Dam area of Lower Kurram.

Political administration said they were trying to locate the abductees and ensure their timely safe release.

The area has a history of sectarian clashes between Sunni and Shia sects in the area and after hectic efforts the government has struck a peace deal between these groups which was not only welcomed by the locals but also by the Taliban fighters.

But such incidents is clear violation of the peace deal concluded by the government on the wishes of both the local warring groups and also created fear among the dwellers that the truce might be at stake in the backdrop of such incidents.

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