LANDI KOAL/KOHAT, June 27: Militants destroyed a school in Khyber Agency while two persons were killed in Akhorwal area of Darra Adamkhel when a mortar shell hit a house on Monday.

Sources said that a group of militants entered the four-decade old building of government high school in Qamarkhel area at around midnight and planted explosives at different portions of two sections of the educational institution.

The powerful explosion destroyed completely the boundary wall and high and middle sections of the school. “Only the science laboratory of the school, situated at a distance from the main building, remained safe,” Shah Jehan, a local, told Dawn .

Established in 1959, the school was one of the oldest educational institutions of the area. Militants have destroyed nearly 30 schools in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency during the last one and half year.

Meanwhile, curfew was lifted in Qambarkhel area after local elders agreed to dismantle all private jails, run by a local militant group, and hand over wanted militants to security forces till June 30.

Official sources said that Qambarkhel elders were also told to dismantle all illegal checkposts established along roadside in the area by the militant group. “The elders were told that no seminary would be allowed to be established and operate in the area without official permission,” they added.

An indefinite curfew was imposed in the entire Qambarkhel area a week ago after security forces destroyed a private jail run by Amr Bil Maroof Wa Nahi Anil Munkir. The militant group used to keep its opponents in the jail. Officials said that curfew would be imposed again and a full-fledged operation would be launched in the area if the elders failed to meet demands of the officials.

Meanwhile, volunteers of Zakhakhel tribal lashkar have taken control of one of Lashkar-i-Islam strongholds in Baz Garha area in Tirah valley.

Sources said that the tribal lashkar was backed by security forces. They added that Zakhakhel lashkar warned Qamakhel tribesmen residing in Baz Garha to either support it or vacate their houses within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, security forces established new checkpoints at Jarhobi locality of Bazaar-Zakhakhel after clearing the area of militants after six years.

The area was under control of Lashkar-i-Islam till March this year when a group of local commanders rebelled against its leader Mangal Bagh.

Meanwhile, two persons including a woman were killed in Akhorwal area of Darra Adamkhel when a mortar shell fired by militants exploded inside a house.

Officials said that security forces received information that militants were hiding in Pirwal Khel village of Akhorwal. Security forces besieged the area but militants started firing on them with automatic weapons, rockets and mortars from the mountains and their hideouts.

One of the mortar shells hit a house, killing Imran and Bibi Marjana, the wife of Ajmal. They were buried later in their ancestral graveyard.