LANDI KOTAL: Four suspected militants were killed when their vehicle was hit by a bomb blast in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency on Friday.

Sources said four militants belonging to the banned Lashkar-i-Islam group were going to Yousuf Talab area in Sipah when the bomb blast ripped through their vehicle. The roadside explosive device was detonated by remote control. The militants suffered critical injuries and died while being taken to the hospital.

Meanwhile, an activist of the Haji Namdar group was killed in a clash with Lashkar-i-Islam militants in Tirah valley on Friday.

During the heavy gunbattle in Mehraban Kalay area, one activist of Lashkar-i-Islam was taken hostage by the Haji Namdar group. The Lashkar-i-Islam captured three men of the other side.

Also on Friday, security forces seized a huge quantity of explosive items in Loe Shalman area of Landi Kotal.

Officials said that security forces seized 16 landmines, eight 20MM mortar shells, six 40MM mortar shells and a high-intensity bomb.

The explosives were spotted along a road by local people. The explosives were later defused at a deserted place.

In Jamrud, the political administration seized 44kg of charas and 26kg of opium during a raid on a market.

Published in Dawn, September 20th , 2014