By Ibrahim Shinwari
LANDI KOTAL: The mutilated bodies of two unidentified women were found near Landi Kotal in Khyber tribal region on Tuesday.
Authorities buried the victims at a local graveyard as their identity could not be ascertained. Hospital sources said that one of the women was shot in the head and the other was strangulated.
The killers had also chopped off their body parts. No group has claimed responsibility for the killing so far. Women have been targeted in the area since militants have started activities in the region.
Official sources said that cellular phones and cash were also found with the bodies, which had several marks of torture. Officials said that the bodies were thrown on Landi Kotal-Kam Shalman Road. Both the women were in their thirties.
Meanwhile, tribal elders have condemned the operation by security forces in Speen Qaber area of Bara subdivision and said that such action could promote lawlessness in the area.
Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday, Bazaar Gul Afridi said that such ill-planned operation could cause more disturbances and its repercussion would be serious for the government.
He denied official statement that 10 militants were killed and 15 vehicles destroyed in the operation carried out on Monday. He said that one activist of the banned lashkar-i-Islam and two innocent tribesmen were killed in the action. He threatened that unprovoked action by the security forces could affect security situation in Peshawar.
Lashkar-i-Islam chief Mangal Bagh has also asked Levies and Khasaddar personnel in the region to quit government job. He said that Khasaddars should not man checkposts.
Source: Dawn
Date:2/25/2009
