Militants free 250 children at Pakistan school

[HAIDER]

PESHAWAR, Jan 28 (AFP): Heavily armed militants took around 250 children hostage at a school in Pakistan Monday but freed them after tense negotiations with tribal elders, the interior ministry said. Rebels armed with rocket launchers holed up at the school in the remote village of Domail in North West Frontier Province after a failed attempt to abduct a local official that left one of them dead. Police surrounded the building while tribesmen negotiated with the insurgents, who had demanded safe passage in exchange for the release of the pupils, aged between eight and 12. “They have surrendered to the local jirga (tribal council) and released the children,” ministry spokesman Brigadier Javed Cheema told AFP after the seven-hour drama ended.(Posted @ 16:36 PST, Updated @ 19:41 PST)
- DAWN - Latest Stories; January 28, 2008

 

[Trooper]

BANNU- Police has, after an encounter with captors, succeeded in getting an abducted EDO of Kirk released.

One of the captors, identified as Gul Jamil, was killed in the encounter while five others were arrested.

According to police, unknown persons held hostage Executive District Officer Health, Dr. Hussain Jan along with his driver while they were on their way to the office from home.

Immediately after receiving information of the incident, police pursued the captors up to Domeel area.

They took shelter in government high school, Wali Dad and also took 200 students hostage.

This led to exchange of fire between the captors and police and at the end police managed to get Dr. Hussain Jan and his driver released.

The schools children remained safe in the whole operation.

 

[mujahideen]

Such an unfortunate event. I mean what do children have to do with all this. These extremists elements aren't helping their cause by doing this kind of stuff.

 

[mujahideen]

These people must refrain from challenging the State's writ. The State might be willing to talk to them now but if they get tries these elements will meet the same fate as the Lal Masjid elements.

 

[S-2]

You won't help your cause either if those men now go free. Commit a crime, face consequences, snatch kid, get released. Bad message to the wrong kind of people.

Post guards at schools-parents, males, armed. Pay them. Let it be known that the first time any children are harmed by the actions of these men-direct (intended) or indirect (stray bullet/IED fragment)- the community citizens will hunt these irhabists down and the mothers will SKIN THEM ALIVE.
(A nice Kipling touch in Khyber country. He'd be appreciative, I'm sure)

EDIT: What's this "Militants FREE 250 children"? How about the real message- "Militants KIDNAP 250 children"? Why empower these animals?