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| India-Pakistan |
| Curfew in Tank |
| 2007-05-15 |
| A curfew was imposed in Tank city on Monday after suspected militants carried out two separate attacks on security forces, killing a paramilitary soldier and civilians, the city’s mayor said. A paramilitary force jawan was killed and another was seriously wounded, while two cops and 10 civilians were injured by hand grenades lobbed by suspected militants on a mobile police van and a check-point, Tank District Nazim Riaz Kundi said. “A curfew-like situation has returned to Tank and schools and offices have been closed for an indefinite period,” he told Daily Times. The city has already been under “night curfew” since March 28. The city was placed under curfew on March 28 after hundreds of tribal militants from South Waziristan attacked the city with rockets and RPGs to avenge the killing of their leader. Kundi said unofficial reports suggested that Uzbek militants driven out from Wazir areas in South Waziristan could have been behind the attacks. He said the suspected militants attacked the police mobile van near Wazirabad at 9.30am killing one FC jawan and wounding another. “In the attack on a police picket near Durand Gate, two cops and 10 civilians were injured, but they are not critical,” he said, blaming “the open border” with Afghanistan for the attacks. He said the curfew had been declared for an indefinite period and its removal would be discussed in a meeting on Tuesday (today). Tank borders South Waziristan where security forces have been fighting foreign militants and their local supporters since late 2002. Militants have tried to use Tank as a base to expand their influence beyond Waziristan’s borders. “The city looks barren as security forces patrol the empty streets,” a resident of Tank said. “The police made announcements urging people to stay home and close their shops.” A day curfew was lifted several weeks after the March 28 attack when an all-tribes jirga won assurance from senior Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud that his group would work for peace in Tank city. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl provincial vice-president Maulana Hasamuddin said “the displaced Uzbeks” could be involved in the attack. “I suspect their involvement,” he told Daily Times. He said the civilians were wounded when police and paramilitary soldiers fired “indiscriminately”. Law enforcement agencies deny this claim. A doctor at the city’s main hospital said four civilians were also injured in the bombing that caused the FC soldier’s death and had been admitted for treatment. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 Don't make us send in Swat... |
| Posted by: mojo 2007-05-15 14:50 |
| #3 Nevermind |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-05-15 01:50 |
| #2 Zen - you forgot the /EmilyLitella tag. |
| Posted by: PBMcL 2007-05-15 01:43 |
| #1 Curfew in Tank What the Hell? How is this supposed to work? Are the gunner and driver not allowed to move from their positions unless they need to drop a load? This is silly! I'm all for discipline in the military but this has simply gone too far!!! |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-05-15 01:17 |