PARACHINAR: Twelve suspected militants were killed and several others injured in a gunbattle with security forces in Shabek area of Kurram tribal region on Thursday.

Talking to Dawn, a local official said that the clash near the Afghan border in lower tehsil of Kurram erupted after the militants stormed a checkpost of Frontier Corps.

He claimed that 12 attackers were killed and several others suffered injuries.

The attack was repulsed by soldiers who took the bodies of the militants in custody.

However, when a senior security official was contacted in Peshawar for details, he expressed ignorance about the incident.

Later, security forces mounted a search for suspects in the area.

Security has been beefed up in Kurram Agency after attacks on checkposts from across the border in Afghanistan. The authorities have also cautioned local tribes to remain vigilant.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2016