The cadets and staffers of the college, situated in North Waziristan, were on their way to Bannu when they were kidnapped by militants who came in 20 vehicles.
‘This is a serious development and will have far-reaching repercussions,’ a senior security official said.
Details were sketchy but the official said that 33 vehicles had started off from Razmak, with 540 cadets, teaching staff and their families after the principal of the college ordered its closure amid apprehensions about an impending military operation against militants.
Officials acknowledged that in accordance with an agreement with the government, local militants affiliated with Commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur in Miramshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan, had escorted the vehicles, along with Khasadars, till the tribal region’s boundary with F.R. Bannu.
‘The vehicles were waylaid by armed militants in the Bakkakhel area and commandeered towards Marwat Canal,’ the official said.
Police said that some women and children were later freed. But, the militants carrying rockets, grenades and automatic machine guns boarded the vehicles and commandeered them to some unspecified place.
Another coach, carrying 17 people, including 10 students, a librarian and a doctor, managed to reach the Miryan police station in Bannu. They were later escorted to the Cantonment police station for their onward journey to their destinations, the police official said.
The number of those kidnapped varied, but one official put the figure at close to 518, including cadets and members of the teaching staff.
District Police Officer of Bannu Iqbal Marwat, however, said that 67 cadets had managed to reach the police, while over 400 were missing.
‘The Taliban are behind the kidnapping,’ Mir Sardar, Assistant Sub-Inspector of the Miryan police station, told The New York Times by phone from Bannu.
Marwat Canal leads to South Waziristan’s Spinkay, through Frontier Region Tank, linked up by a nullah frequently used by militants to bypass security checkposts.
Gul Bahadur, leader of the Ittehad-i-Shura Mujahideen, North Waziristan, has wide influence in Bakkakhel and some officials believe that the kidnapping could not have taken place without his blessing.
‘He thinks that he can hoodwink us by escorting these students and teachers to fulfil his commitment not to harm them in his area of influence and then have them kidnapped from Bakkakhel. But we all know whose people operate in Bakkakhel,’ the official said.
He said that three militant commanders — Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan leader Baitullah Mehsud, Maulvi Nazir in South Waziristan and Hafiz Gul Bahadur — had forged an alliance to help each other in the event of a military operation.
Citing recent reports, the official said that Maulvi Nazir who didn’t trust the TTP leader, had sent men to fight for him against any possible military operation.
‘They are all one,’ the security official said. He said the kidnapping would have far-ranging consequences since most of those kidnapped belonged to the federally administered tribal regions.
Security officials said that militants from all over the tribal region were converging on the Mehsud part of South Waziristan amid reports that a military operation was imminent.
There has been an increase in clashes between militants and security forces in the Mehsud territory after the military made inroads for what it calls ‘readjustments’ to link up vital communication network.
Baitullah Mehsud warned of attacks if troops do not withdraw from his area, after a jirga failed to mediate between him and the tribal administration.
Officials said that the militant leader would like to use the kidnapped students to secure the release of his comrades under detention and force the government to not only withdraw its forces from the region but also halt the military operation.
The political administration in F.R. Bannu and North Waziristan has tasked a jirga of tribal elders to locate the kidnapped cadets and staff members and secure their early release, the official said.
Another Cowardly act by Taliban, this time kidnapped over 500 teenage students of Cadet College Razmak along with Teachers and other staff. Cadet College Razmak is a Military High School, located in the valley of Razmak, in North Waziristan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The College was just closed and the students and staff were moving to safer cities for an impending military operation against Taliban militants.
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It is the utter failure of Bannu DCO as the kidnappings took place in the area controlled by him. Being a native of the area, i can easily say that any criminal activity taking place in Bakakhel area is near to impossible without the complete negligence of government. Bakakhels are historically famous for being used as a route of criminals. In the recent past the abducted few people of Bannu city and the were later released after the people of Bannu blocked all the routes leading to Bakakhel. It is worth mentioning here that Bakakhel is an area which can easily be locked out since it border settled area of Bannu.
I wonder how can the DCO now blame Taliban when he could not provide security to to the students in the Bakakhel area which is just few kilometers from his office in Bannu and hardly 20 minutes drive from Bannu Cantt?
Although Talibans are surely to be blamed but thee DCO bannu is equally responsible for the incident.
I totally agree. I have been in this area twice and I know that Bakakhelis are the scum and filth on the face of earth. They are genetically and inheritdely criminal minded right from birth.
What all I know of the incident is that governor called PA NWA and Principal to vacate the college immediately.The PA sent around 30 mvehicles to the principal loaded the vehicles and moved only with Khasadar protection party.The Khasadar party stoped at Kajori check post and the convoy moved ahead without any protection. At Bakakhel they were intercepted by the elements of Baitullah Mehsud’s group.To me everybody in the chain of comand is responsible. The governor___ what was the emergency. The PA _______ why moving so many individuals and provide a lucrative target to the terrorists without arranging the requisite security. The Pincipal ___ Moving without ensuring security arrangements. The COmmandant Shawal Rifles_____ surily responsible for the security of college, did not bother to arrange the security. In the past it was Shawal Rifles providing security upto Bannu.The Commisioner Bannu___ all but his responsibility in FR Bannu area.None is aware of the feelings of the parents of the students. If such an event had taken place in a civikised society, all those responsible for the mishap would have been taken to task. What can we expect in Pakistan?
Mjy apny choty bhaio par afsos hy k unhy aghwa kr leye gya mgr ye taklif shyad hamary any wale choty bhaio k leia shyad kch acha pegham lai.
s par sabar karo aur apny mulk ki behtari k keai dua karo.
@K@$H.
jab mana ye suna ka taliban na cadets ko aghwa keya tu muja bohat ghusa aya
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