25 killed, 120 injured in suicide blast at mosque in high-security zone in Pakistan's Peshawar
Peshawar (PTI): A powerful suicide blast ripped through a mosque during afternoon prayers on Monday in the high-security zone in Peshawar city in Pakistan, killing at least 25 people and wounding 120 others, mostly policemen, security and health officials said.
The blast occurred in the mosque in the Police Lines area around 1.40 pm when a suicide bomber present in the front row during the Zuhr (afternoon) prayers blew himself up, security officials said.
Deputy Commissioner Shafiullah Khan told the media that 25 people were killed and 120 others injured in the powerful blast.
There were mostly policemen among the injured, said the eyewitness.
No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the outlawed
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, known as the Pakistan Taliban, has carried out a number of suicide attacks in the past, targeting security personnel.
Superintendent of Police (Investigation), Peshawar, Shazad Kaukab, whose office is close to the mosque, told the media that the blast occurred when he just entered the mosque to offer prayers. He said he luckily survived the attack.
The bomber entered the highly secured mosque inside police lines where four layers of security were in place to enter the mosque.
A police official said that a portion of the mosque collapsed and several people were believed to be under it.
The injured are being shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, he said.
Hospital sources said 13 of those injured were in a critical condition.
An emergency has been declared in the hospitals of Peshawar. The hospital has appealed citizens to donate blood for the victims.
Security has been beefed up in other major cities, including Islamabad, after the Peshawar blast.
Caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan condemned the attack and offered condolences to the bereaved families.
Former prime minister Imran Khan strongly condemned the terrorist attack in the mosque.
"My prayers and condolences go to victims' families. It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering & properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism," the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf tweeted.
Last year, a similar attack inside a Shia mosque in the Kocha Risaldar area in the city killed 63 people.
⚡ Pakistan: Blast inside the Mosque near most secured Police Lines in Peshawar.
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) January 30, 2023
One side of the mosque has collapsed.
More than 50 injured. Death numbers not known yet. Emergency declared in nearby hospitals pic.twitter.com/F9VF5a3a4d
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Two missing men found dead in Manipur's Kamjong, CM assures NIA probe
Imphal (PTI): Two men who went missing in Manipur's Kamjong district were found dead on Thursday, officials said.
The deceased have been identified as Thangboimang Khongsai (35) from Shangkai in Ukhrul district and Thengin Baite (40) from nearby Thawai Kuki village.
The two had gone to repair water pipelines in a forest on Wednesday but did not return home, villagers claimed.
Their bodies were recovered at a short distance from each other by villagers and security personnel, hours after 21 Tangkhul Naga civilians, who had been detained by villagers and armed men from Shangkai, were released.
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Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh told the Assembly on Thursday that the case would be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and families of the deceased would be given compensation.
In a post on X, Singh said, "The government will hand over the case related to the death of two individuals at Thawai Kuki village to the NIA for a thorough and impartial investigation. Ex gratia will also be provided to the bereaved families as per government norms. The government remains committed to ensuring justice, maintaining law and order, and upholding the rule of law in the state."
Soon after the bodies were recovered, a police vehicle was targeted by a mob at Mongkot Chepu in Ukhrul district around 10 am. One vehicle was damaged in the attack, officials said.
Irate villagers at Shangkai also blocked the Ukhrul-Imphal road with stones and boulders to protest the killing.
