Tappi Ghundikala (N. Waziristan) Drone Attack VII – Oct 2012
Date: 24/10/2012
Location: North Waziristan Agency, FATA, Pakistan
Perpetrators: United States
Victims: 1 Killed (1 civilians), 9 Injured (9 children)
What Happened?
24 October 2012: A U.S. drone strike destroyed a house in the Tappi Ghundi Kili area of Miranshah Tehsil. This attack reportedly occurred at around 1440 hours. Initial media reports alleged that a militant hideout had been targeted, killing at least 5 militants.
Later investigations by the Amnesty International found that only a single person had been killed, a 67-year-old grandmother Mamana Bibi. Bibi had been collecting firewood with at least six of her grandchildren when the first drone missile struck, gravely injuring her. A double-tap missile followed minutes later, killing Mamana and heavily injuring her grandchildren.
Security officials later doubled-down that militants had been killed in this attack, and Mamana’s family home was called a munitions depot used by militants. These allegations were refuted when Amnesty International released a signed letter from the Political Agent of North Waziristan, confirming that this attack had targeted Mamana and her grandchildren.
The identities of Mamana’s grandchildren were released by The News and Allvoices: Kaleemur Rehman (18), Shahidur Rehman (12), Zubair Khan (11), Samad Rahman (9), Asma (4), Saira (5), Nabeela (8), Naima (7), and Rahman (15).
Sources: Gulf Times, Amnesty International, The News, Allvoices
OMM-PK335