KHAR, May 29: Three girls were killed when they stepped on an anti-personnel mine at the Akori village on Monday morning. The girls were playing near a water tank where the mine had been planted.

The girls are related to a local tribesman, Abdul Ghani, and were identified as Shabeena, 12; Parveen Bibi, 10, and Maryam, 8.

Inhabitants of the area said that Abdul Ghani had no enmity with anyone. He had moved to the Akori village a few years ago from the Kagha village of Mamond tehsil.

Pazir Gul from Miramshah adds: Security forces shot dead a bystander after a military convoy hit a remote-controlled device on the main highway near the Mirali Bazaar in the North Waziristan Agency on Monday, sources said.

They said that the military convoy was headed from Bannu to Miramshah when it hit the device.

A vehicle which was part of the convoy was partially damaged in the explosion but soldiers in the truck remained unhurt.

Eyewitnesses said that after the explosion troops started firing, killing a tribesman.

His name could not be ascertained.

Sources said that heavy movement of troops was underway in the troubled area, bordering Afghanistan.

Militants have intensified their activities in the area during the last few days and have started attacking troops and pro-government elders.