Eight people were killed and 18 more wounded on the fourth day of fierce clashes in Kurram Agency on Monday, as security forces battled to contain sectarian violence that has killed more than 100 people in three days. The latest casualties have taken the number of those killed in Parachinar and Sadda to 94, while the total injured have reached 168, unofficial sources revealed. However, a security official told AFP that, “The latest death toll has climbed to 107”.The eight civilians, all Sunni, were killed when several mortars landed in Sadda Bazaar. Residents said the shells were fired from the Ibrahimzai area, a stronghold of the area’s Shia community. Several of the mortars hit populated areas in the sabzi mandi near Akbar Khan Market and the United Bank Limited building in Sadda Bazaar.
Also on Monday, two people were killed and three injured when a house was hit, witnesses said, AFP reported. Four others died and six were wounded when army helicopters fired at armed groups in Parachinar. The local tribesmen of Dara Adamkhel killed an attacker who allegedly opened fire in a mosque, injuring six persons on the spot, APP quoted official sources as saying.
Important locations: Meanwhile, the military continued using helicopters against those flouting the government orders regarding ceasefire. The choppers targeted buildings and trenches where armed men had taken positions.
Military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad told BBC that the army had taken control of several important locations in Parachinar, including a mosque and an imambargah, Online reported. Officials of the local administration could not be reached for comments. Earlier, security officials had said that 11 soldiers had died in the crossfire. “Security forces have been targeted by both sides,” the military said in a statement.
Meanwhile, sources said efforts were underway to organise an Orakzai tribe jirga to put an end to the clashes and bring calm to the area. They said the political administration was in contact with leaders of both the Shia and Sunni communities and a jirga would be organised in a day to restore normalcy to the region. AFP quoted a local administration official as saying that a 16-member tribal peace delegation has arrived in Parachinar under orders from the NWFP governor to mediate between the groups and try to restore calm.