LANDI KOTAL/KOHAT, July 9: Three members of a banned militant organisation were killed when a tribal lashkar attacked their positions in Tirah valley of Khyber Agency on Saturday, sources said.

Local sources said that proscribed militant organisation Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) suffered casualties and lost two of its strategic hilltops in Bhukar and Nari Baba areas when Zakhakhel tribal lashkar launched fresh attacks on its positions.

They said that at least four members of the militant outfit were made hostages by the volunteers of tribal lashkar and injured two of its supporters. The captured hilltops included Khazana Morcha and Torwat, both famous hashish producing areas, and were under the control of LI for the last six years.

In Chora village of Jamrud tehsil, the Zakhakhel lashkar raided some houses of LI supporters and made four of them captives while also seized three pick-up vehicles.

Meanwhile, the residents of Chora also raised a peace lashkar comprising 100 local armed volunteers and issued warning to LI sympathisers to leave the area within one week.

Headed by Essa Khan, the peace lashkar that is consisted of Jandakhel-Malikdinkhel tribe, met the commandant of Khyber Rifles in army camp in Landi Kotal on Saturday and assured him of full support against the banned militant outfits.

Chora remained under the control of LI till Zakhakhel lashkar revolted against it in April this year.

Meanwhile, a child was injured and a tubewell was partially damaged when an explosive device went off in a village in Tor Chappar area of Darra Adamkhel on Saturday.

Hameed, the 11-year-old injured boy, was shifted to a local hospital for treatment. Doctors said that he was in stable condition. The blast also damaged the boundary wall of a tubewell, officials said.They said that Kohiwal village was comparatively peaceful as no terrorist activity had been reported in the area for the last one year.

The blast occurred in broad daylight that surprised administration and residents of the area because militants always conducted such activities during night, they said.

Security forces cordoned off the area and collected evidence but no suspect was arrested.

Meanwhile, a police constable was injured when a Kalashnikov was mistakenly fired by the in-charge of ammunition store in Thall tehsil of Kohat division on Saturday.

Sources said that Ibrar, a police constable, deposited his Kalashnikov with in-charge of store Khalid. The constable had removed magazine but the in-charge did not know that a bullet had been left in the chamber of the rifle. The rifle was fired after he accidentally pressed the trigger, they said.

The SHO of Thall police station, Sher Bahadar Khan, told Dawn that the injured policeman, who received bullet under his left shoulder, was taken to hospital where he would stay for few days.

He said that the incident was an accident therefore no report had been registered as the victim had no grievances against the in-charge of the store.