LADDAH: Twelve members of a displaced family were killed when a bomb hit them in South Waziristan on Monday. The dead included women and children.

According to sources, the ill-fated family was fleeing the army operation against militants in Hendi Zawar area. Unconfirmed reports suggested that they were hit by a shell fired from a jet plane.

Some displaced people who had managed to reach Razmak area of North Waziristan said the family belonged to the Shabikhel tribe.

In action against militants, troops destroyed houses of eight tribesmen in Engamali area for allegedly supporting militants.

According to local people, troops repeatedly fired shells from their base in Razmak at militants’ hideouts in Makin.

They said that Monday’s army offensive was not as severe as on the two previous days.

‘Troops are consolidating positions in the areas where they have made incursions over the past two days,’ they added.
 
Militants fired a volley of rockets at a military base in Razmak from an unknown direction, killing one soldier and wounding six others.

The military authorities have chalked out a strategy to attack militant hideouts from three directions — Razmak, Jandola and Tiarza.

Warplanes and combat helicopters shelled militant positions and ground forces occupied the Tower Top after dislodging militants from there.

Thousands of people are reported stranded in various areas of South Waziristan because of closure of roads by security forces and non-availability of transport.

They are also facing a severe shortage of food and medicines.

Pazir Gul in Miramshah also contributed to this report