KHAR, Jan 28: Taking a leaf out of their counterpart’s war on education in Swat, suspected militants blew up a government school for boys near a security post in the Nawagai subdivision of Bajaur Agency on Tuesday night.

According to local people, the attackers broke into the school near the house of former parliamentarian Haji Lal Karim and took away equipment before blowing up the building. Several loud explosions were heard in the area.

Paramilitary forces had set up the post near the school two years ago. No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Assistant Political Agent Mohammad Jamil Khan said three people had been arrested under the Frontier Crimes Regulation in connection with the attack.

An official of the Fata education directorate said 20 government schools had been destroyed in the region since a military operation was launched last year.

Meanwhile, registration of displaced people has gained momentum and 60 families returned to their villages on Wednesday. The administration has made registration mandatory for people returning to their homes.

In the first phase, only those families will be allowed to return who were living within 400 yards of the main roads.

According to a pres release, a medical camp set up by the army in Saidgai area of North Waziristan has treated more than 350 people. Polio drops were also administered to children in the camp.

AFP adds: “Houses of six pro-government tribal elders were also blown up in different parts of Bajaur,” an official said. None of the elders were at home. They were members of a lashkar formed in Mamoun area to counter Taliban, the official said.