MIRAMSHAH, Feb 10: Three persons, including two khasadars, were killed by militants in North Waziristan Agency on charges of spying, sources said.

“Killing personnel of Khasadar Force is the first incident of its kind in the region,” sources said. The deceased were identified as khasadars Taj Noor and Laiq Noor and a local resident Mureedullah.

The bodies of two khasadars were recovered from a sack. Sources said that paper slips were found on the bodies. “These people were involved in spying on Taliban and all those doing so will face similar fate,” the paper said.

In Battagram, two young brothers were killed in an explosion in Sarkhali Panda area on Thursday evening.

“Two brothers are killed in an explosion but the nature of the blast is yet to be established as a police party has rushed to the scene,” DPO Ghulam Hussain told Dawn by telephone.

According to local people the explosive was dumped at a deserted house and it exploded with a big band when Mohammad Rashid, 10, and his brother Hassan, 16, dragged it.

Sources said that Abdul Aziz, the father of the victims, was arrested by security forces last year for his alleged links with militants. He was released later on.

In Bajaur tribal region, security forces have warned militants to lay down arms within 15 days or face a full-fledged military operation.

The announcement was made during a jirga held in Salarzai area of Bajaur on Thursday. The officials of security forces and local administration and elders of Kamelkhel and Kabdokhel tribes attended the jirga.

Khar Assistant Political Agent Mohammad Jamil Khan and Major Amjad Iqbal were also present on the occasion.

Jamil Khan told the jirga that normalcy had been restored in many parts of the agency in the wake of military operation against militants.

Major Amjad said that writ of government had been restored in Bajaur tribal region. He said that support and cooperation of local tribesmen was key to success in the fight against militants.

He urged the tribal elders to extend maximum cooperation to security forces to eliminate militants from the area.

An operation would be launched against militants if they failed to lay down arms and surrender to security forces by Feb 25, the officials said.

They urged tribal people to form peace committees at village level to thwart entry of militants into their respective areas.

The jirga also decided that all unfrequented routes linking Bajaur Agency with Mohmand Agency would remain closed, while the main road would be open for movement of tribal people of the two agencies.