A deadly clash has erupted between rival factions of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) over stolen bank loot
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa [Pakistan], August 21 : New details have emerged about a fatal clash between two factions of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which resulted in the deaths of five militants in the DI Khan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, according to The Express Tribune.
Sources reported that the confrontation occurred between the Gandapur and Marwat factions of the TTP. The violence led to the deaths of two members from the Gandapur faction and three from the Marwat faction.
The conflict erupted over disagreements about the distribution of money obtained from bank robberies. Both TTP factions had been involved in robbing bank vans on the Dera-Peshawar Road, Tank-Dera Road, and Daraban-Dera Road, as well as in the Daraban and Kulachi areas.
What started as a dispute over stolen cash quickly escalated into an armed clash. Among the casualties was Sifat, also known as Ghazi Ashna, the commander of the Marwat group, along with his associate Naveed, alias Khanzala Ghaznikhel, and another companion.
The Gandapur group also lost two members. Reports indicate that the bodies of the deceased militants were buried at the scene by their fellow members.
Sifat, Naveed, and their associates were wanted by police in Dera Ismail Khan and Tank for various terrorism-related offences. Earlier this month, a significant incident occurred when militants seized an armored vehicle carrying bank cash and five security guards at the DI Khan-Tank border, as reported by the Tribune.
The vehicle, transporting Pakistani Rs 50 million, lost contact with its headquarters and was subsequently hijacked. While a TTP social media page claimed responsibility and announced the release of the guards, the police could not confirm this due to a lack of information on the vehicle's location and the status of the cash and guards.
A similar incident involving another cash-carrying van and its staff occurred a month ago in the Daraban area.