Bomb disposal official martyred in South Waziristan IED blast

Bomb disposal official martyred in South Waziristan IED blast

A police bomb disposal official lost his life after an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded during a clearance operation in the Janta area of Sararogha tehsil, Upper South Waziristan, on Saturday.

The deceased was identified as Abdul Jabbar, who served as an assistant in charge of the bomb disposal unit. District Police Officer (DPO) Ashfaq Khan confirmed the incident to The Express Tribune, saying Jabbar sustained critical injuries in the explosion and later succumbed to them.

According to the DPO, Jabbar had successfully defused one IED planted in the area. However, another explosive device detonated as he attempted to neutralise it, causing him fatal injuries.

Police suspect that terrorists planted the second device specifically to target the bomb disposal squad. However, investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the explosion to establish the exact nature of the attack.

Following the incident, Sararogha Station House Officer (SHO) rushed to the site with a police contingent. The team inspected the area, collected evidence and initiated an investigation.

DPO Khan said police had initially recorded the incident in the station’s daily diary before referring the case to the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) for registration of a formal first information report (FIR) and further legal action.

The incident comes amid a continuing rise in militant attacks across Upper and Lower South Waziristan over the past two years. Police personnel, security forces and civilians have increasingly faced attacks, intensifying concerns over the deteriorating security situation in the region.

Jabbar’s martyrdom highlights the grave dangers faced by bomb disposal personnel, who routinely risk their lives to locate and neutralise explosives planted by militants.