Landmines in flood-hit areas pose threat to farmers

PESHAWAR
After the devastating floods, the farmers of Tank and Dera Ismail Khan are facing another threat of the lethal landmines washed down by the floodwaters from Waziristan to the lower areas.
The land mines and improvise explosive devises, moved from upper areas of Waziristan, have been installed by both security forces and militants for their safety, highly placed sources and dwellers of southern region told Pakistan Today.
Three cases of landmine explosion have been registered so far in the scattered areas of both Tank and Dera Ismael Khan after the floods. At least five people, including three children, sustained serious injuries when the flood-brought mines exploded in their farms.
The first landmine case happened in the Shoar Court area of DI Khan in which three children, Taib Hussain seven year old, Sadia Bibi, 12, and Safi Ullah, 13, were injured. Hussain lost his leg while Sadia and Safi were seriously injured.
In Tank district, 55 year-old Khwza Bibi, belonging to Niamat Khel, lost her leg when she stood on a landmine which blasted. Another case was reported in Baden village of Jandola area of FR Tang where one person was injured when he was working in his land.
Abdullah Baitani, a resident of Tank, told Pakistan Today a large number of anti-personnel landmines and bombs had been swept away by the floodwaters from the upper areas. He said security forces installed landmines outside their check-posts in South Waziristan. He added militants also planted landmines at various places for targeting the security forces and around their hideouts.
These landmines were swept away by the floods and reached the areas of Tank and Dera Ismail Khan, he maintained. “Now the farmers of the areas are facing a great inconvenience as owners and drivers of tractors were reluctant to cultivate their worst-affected lands for fear of the landmines,” he said.
Another local source said on the condition of anonymity that the floods hit the security checks posts situated in Sarwakai, Sararogha, Jandola, Chagmalai and in Tayarza areas. He said the security forces installed anti-personnel landmines in these checks posts for safety but they were swept away by the recent floods to the plane areas which pose threats to the people’s lives.