GHALANAI: Eleven security personnel were injured in two roadside bomb blasts in Gongat Jowar area of Alingar tehsil in Mohmand tribal region near Afghan border on Wednesday.

An administration official told Dawn that an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by suspected militants along the road went off when a convoy of Bajaur Scouts returning to Ghalanai from Nawapas Top checkpost reached Gongat Jowar. Eight troops were injured and one of the vehicles was damaged.

The injured were identified as Said Amin, Kamran Khan, Samiullah, Niaz Hussain, Subhanallah, Usman Ghani, Lal Hussain and Imran Hussain.

Personnel of the bomb disposal unit were called to clear the road. As soon as they reached the place of the blast, another IED went off, injuring Sobedar Shakir Khan, Naik Hameed Khan and soldier Khan Wali.

The injured were taken to a hospital in Mamad Gat from where they were airlifted to Peshawar because of their critical condition.

Security forces conducted a search operation in the area, picked up 20 suspects and took them to an unspecified place for interrogation.

Meanwhile, security forces with the help of tribal volunteers demolished two houses of suspected militants Muhammad Ayaz and Luqman in Durba Khel area of Haleemzai tehsil.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2015

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