MIRAMSHAH, Oct 28: A soldier was killed in a militant attack on a post and three civilians lost their lives when security personnel shelled villages after the militant assault early on Monday morning.

According to sources, miscreants opened fire on the Amin post in Miramshah late on Sunday night, killing one solider and injuring three others. The injured personnel were airlifted to the Bannu Combined Military Hospital in critical condition.

The troops retaliated and used mortar shells. The attackers, however, escaped and the shells hit populated areas, damaging several houses. Waheed of Zafar Town, Changez of Srai Darapkhel and an unidentified child in Miramshah were killed and seven others, among them women and children, were injured. They were taken to the North Waziristan Agency Headquarters Hospital in Miramshah.

Shells hit Miramshah Kallay, Miramshah Bazaar, Zafar Town, Srai Darpakhel, Darpakhel Kallay, Qutabkhel and Waziri Kot.

Locals said people came out of their homes in panic and requested the security personnel through mosques’ loudspeakers to stop firing because innocent people were being hit while the suspected militants had fled.

Many people left their homes for safe places as the shelling continued.

Later, a jirga of tribal elders met Political Agent Siraj Ahmed Khan who assured them that he would convey their message to the higher authorities of the security forces.

Security personnel had arrested 34 tribesmen during a search operation on Sunday in Isorhi and Khadi villages of Mirali tehsil after a security man was killed and three others injured in blasts.