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Islamabad/Peshawar: A suicide bomber killed a security personnel and injured 29 others yesterday in northwest Pakistan, a day after a suicide attack left up to 40 dead in the region's scenic Swat valley, officials said.
The latest attack occurred in the tribal area of Bajaur Agency when the bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into a convoy of Levies force or tribal police, officials of the political administration in the area said.
Media reports said three personnel were killed in the Bajaur bombing in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), where security forces have been battling militants in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan,
In the Friday night attack at Mingora town in Swat valley the bomber blew himself up amidst hundreds of mourners attending the funeral of a slain police officer.
Authorities there said the death toll had risen to around 40 as several of more than 80 people wounded in the bombing died in hospitals.
Private television channel Aaj said the bombing death toll in Swat valley, scene of recent operations by security forces against religious militants, had gone up to 50.
The body of police officer Javed Iqbal was brought to his native place from Lakki Marwat, a place about 300km south of Mingora.
Tight security
He had been killed along with two other police personnel at Lakki Marwat in a roadside bomb blast on Friday morning. The victims were buried yesterday amid tight security and a large number of people attended the rites.
The new attacks heightened insecurity fears, as Pakistan awaits formation of new governments at the centre and the provinces following the February general elections. Aaj channel quoted caretaker home minister Hamid Nawaz Khan as saying in an interview that involvement of foreign hands in growing incidence of suicide attacks was becoming increasingly certain.
Among the dead in Friday night's attack was Iqbal's 16-year-old son, Ghazan. Deputy Inspector-General of Police Syed Akhtar Ali Shah said an investigation has started. He said although no one has claimed responsibility, police were confident of arresting those who orchestrated the suicide attack.
District police chief Arshad Majid said 40 bodies were accounted for, but the toll was expected to rise after forensic officials reconstruct body parts. The suicide bombing was the bloodiest attack in the Swat Valley since militant followers of a pro-Taliban cleric grabbed control of large parts of the scenic corner of Pakistan's restive northwest. President Pervez Musharraf sent thousands of troops to Swat in November but attacks have persisted.
- With inputs from AP
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