BANNU: A security man was killed and two others were injured when militants ambushed a military convoy during a search operation in Janikhel area on Tuesday.

The convoy of security forces was on a routine patrol in the area when a group of militants opened firing on it as a result a soldier identified as Abid Hussain was killed while two others, Mehmoodul Hassan and Syed Nadeem Shah, sustained injuries. The injured were shifted to Combined Military Hospital Bannu.

Meanwhile, militants fired three rockets at a security post. However, the rockets missed the target. One of the rockets landed near a basic health unit and the second at a government high school building.

JIRGA
The jirga of Janikhel tribes have set a seven-day deadline for the government to initiate dialogue with them on the pattern of Bakakhel tribes.

The deadline was set at a meeting of the jirg of three sub-clans -- Adyakhel, Toor and Malak Shahi -- of Janikhel held at Milad Park in Bannu on Tuesday.

Addressing the jirga, Malak Rehmatullah Khan, Malak Mawaiz Khan, Qasim Khan and Malak Jan Mohammad said tribal people had been suffering from the ongoing military operation since its launching some 21 days ago.

They said innocent people were killed and their properties were destroyed but no foreign militant was killed or apprehended from the area so far.

They said most of the local people had vacated their houses to save their lives. They added that during their absence militants had occupied their houses and were attacking security forces.

They said if the operation was halted and local people were allowed to go to the area then no miscreant could enter their houses.

They said that Janikhel tribes would try their best to make sure that no miscreant could attack troops.

They also appealed to the NWFP governor to withdraw cases against tribesmen, lodged under Frontier Crimes Regulation.