In yet another embarrass-ment for Pakistan security agencies, heavily armed militants of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) stormed a prison in Dera Ismail Khan in restive Khyber Pakhtunwa province of Pakistan during the preceding night and freed over 240 prisoners undergoing detention in the jail .
Islamabad, July 30/Nationalturk – The heavily armed militants of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) stormed a prison in Dera Ismail Khan in restive Khyber Pakhtunwa province of Pakistan during the preceding night and freed over 240 prisoners undergoing detention in the jail .
Security officials said over 60 heavily armed TTP militants attacked Central Jail in Dera Ismail Khan from different sides on Monday evening. “The militants fired from automatic weapons, fired rocket propelled grenades, triggered blasts and blew up police vehicles in the compound of the jail”.
They said after heavy exchange of fire with the policemen deployed for security in the prison, militants managed to make their way into the jail.
Inspector General Jails in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Khalid Abbas told Pakistan newspaper, The Dawn that militants scaled over the boundary wall after exploding it and launched the attack.
Officials said police, paramilitary forces and army men were rushed to secure the prison. After six hours gunfight, the security force personnel managed to take control of the prison.
6 policemen, 4 civilians, 4 Shia prisoners killed
Officials said nine people including six policemen were killed and 14 others injured in the militant attack. “Four Shia prisoners, who were involved in targeted killings, were shot dead by the militants”.
DI Khan Commissioner Mushtaq Jadoon told Pakistan’s ARY News channel that 243 prisoners have escaped. “Six of them were later arrested by police. 30 among the escaped prisoners were hardcore militants”.
He said the militants had planted dozens of explosive devices in the jail and 17 of them were defused so far.
The police, paramilitary forces and army have enforced curfew in DI Khan area and adjoining areas and launched a massive combing and search operation to flush out the militants and the prisoners, who escaped from the prison. The authorities have cautioned people to stay indoors and not venture out.
A security official said the jail held up to 5,000 prisoners including some 300 militants involved in attacks on security forces and sectarian killings.
This not the first instance of militants attacking prison to free their captive associates in Pakistan. Earlier on April 15, 2012, over 400 prisoners including some hard core militants had escaped from Bannu Jail after TTP militants had attacked the prison with guns, grenades and rockets.
TTP commander Adnan Rashid, who was serving a jail term for attacking former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf, was among the freed detainees. He recently released a video early this year, announcing formation of a special group to help rescue militants holed up in jails across Pakistan.
TTP claims responsibility
The TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid called Pakistan newspaper The Dawn and claimed responsibility for the attack.
He said around 100 militants including number of suicide bombers participated in the attack. “The militants achieved their targets and the operation was successful”.
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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News
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