16 people including several children died and 120 others were injured on Monday in a powerful explosion in a madrassa being used to make bombs as six Taliban militants were also killed in a skirmish with security forces in Pakistan’s South Waziristan tribal region.
As the Army prepares to launch a major assault against Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud and his network in South Waziristan, troops captured four militants in continuing search and clearance operations in the northwestern Swat valley.
A group of militants attacked a check post manned by security forces along the Wana-Tank road in South Waziristan Agency this morning, triggering a gun battle.
The security forces, while retaliating against the attack, encircled the militants and killed six of them.
Ten militants were injured during the exchange of fire and two of them were later arrested by the security forces, the local political agent said.
The attackers escaped, leaving behind the bodies of six militants, he added.
The madrassa blast in a village near Mian Channu in southern Punjab killed at least 16 people, including several children, and injured 120 others shortly before 10 am local time.
The explosives were stored in the home of madrassa teacher Riaz Ali, local residents said. Ali was a member of a banned religious group, officials said.
Police and rescue service officials told reporters that 16 people, including several children, were killed in the blast, which also destroyed dozens of houses.
Muhammad Yousuf Soomra, health officer of Khanewal district, said the toll could rise as more bodies were feared to be buried under the rubble of collapsed homes.
It was not immediately known what triggered the blast.
Rescue workers found parts of shells and bombs, grenades, rockets and suicide jackets in the rubble of the madrassa.
Officials said the seminary was being used to make bombs.
Doctors in local hospitals said 120 injured people had been brought for treatment.
Over 40 of them were admitted to hospitals while many were allowed to go home after being given first aid.
An emergency was declared in all hospitals near Mian Channu.
‘Jehadi’ material, including cassettes with militant propaganda and pamphlets of the Harkat-ul-Jehad al-Islami terrorist group, were also found in the debris of Ali’s house, the news channel reported.
The blast created a crater 40 feet wide and eight feet deep.
The explosion flattened about 25 structures, including a rural health centre and the madrassa, a police official said.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army is expected to launch a major campaign against Taliban chief Mehsud and his network in South Waziristan after wrapping up its operations against militants in Swat and nearby districts.
Additional troops have already been deployed in the semi-autonomous tribal region, where recent air strikes have targeted militant hideouts and training centres in Mehsud s stronghold.
As the Army prepares to launch a major assault against Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud and his network in South Waziristan, troops captured four militants in continuing search and clearance operations in the northwestern Swat valley.
A group of militants attacked a check post manned by security forces along the Wana-Tank road in South Waziristan Agency this morning, triggering a gun battle.
The security forces, while retaliating against the attack, encircled the militants and killed six of them.
Ten militants were injured during the exchange of fire and two of them were later arrested by the security forces, the local political agent said.
The attackers escaped, leaving behind the bodies of six militants, he added.
The madrassa blast in a village near Mian Channu in southern Punjab killed at least 16 people, including several children, and injured 120 others shortly before 10 am local time.
The explosives were stored in the home of madrassa teacher Riaz Ali, local residents said. Ali was a member of a banned religious group, officials said.
Police and rescue service officials told reporters that 16 people, including several children, were killed in the blast, which also destroyed dozens of houses.
Muhammad Yousuf Soomra, health officer of Khanewal district, said the toll could rise as more bodies were feared to be buried under the rubble of collapsed homes.
It was not immediately known what triggered the blast.
Rescue workers found parts of shells and bombs, grenades, rockets and suicide jackets in the rubble of the madrassa.
Officials said the seminary was being used to make bombs.
Doctors in local hospitals said 120 injured people had been brought for treatment.
Over 40 of them were admitted to hospitals while many were allowed to go home after being given first aid.
An emergency was declared in all hospitals near Mian Channu.
‘Jehadi’ material, including cassettes with militant propaganda and pamphlets of the Harkat-ul-Jehad al-Islami terrorist group, were also found in the debris of Ali’s house, the news channel reported.
The blast created a crater 40 feet wide and eight feet deep.
The explosion flattened about 25 structures, including a rural health centre and the madrassa, a police official said.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army is expected to launch a major campaign against Taliban chief Mehsud and his network in South Waziristan after wrapping up its operations against militants in Swat and nearby districts.
Additional troops have already been deployed in the semi-autonomous tribal region, where recent air strikes have targeted militant hideouts and training centres in Mehsud s stronghold.
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