GHALANAI: A landmine went off in Baizai tehsil here on Saturday, injuring three young boys, security sources said.

The landmine was planted by unknown persons at a place used by the people for taking rest underneath trees in Atmar Khel area.

Security sources identified the victims as Arif Khan, 18, Noor Ullah, 10, and his brother Abdullah, 11, who were playing when the blast struck. The injured were shifted to a Peshawar hospital for treatment. One of the injured was stated to be in critical condition.

After the incident, political administration with the help of levies and khasadar men conducted a search operation in the adjoining areas and arrested five suspects and shifted them to political lockup in Bahi Daag area.

Meanwhile, residents of Yousaf Khel area of Haleemzai tehsil took out a protest rally and blocked the main Peshawar-Bajaur Road on Saturday against suspension of power supply to their area.

The protesters demanded that the power supply suspended for last three days should immediately be restored.

They said power suspension had caused water shortage in houses and mosques, forcing people to come onto the roads.

They said an out of order transformer at the Ghalanai grid station could not be repaired despite passage of four months due to which the local people were bearing the brunt of power suspensions. They demanded of the KP governor to take notice of the matter.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2016