PESHAWAR: Two women were among seven Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) killed in Hangu when unidentified gunmen opened fire on them Wednesday.

According to police, unidentified men trespassed into a house and killed the seven people. One woman was said to be injured.

The victims were IDPs of the Ali Khel tribe in Orakzai Agency.

The First Information Report (FIR) of the incident stated that the incident could be of sectarian nature.

Ali Khel is a mixed Shia-Sunni tribe and its members are scattered across the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. It is also a pro-government and anti-Taliban tribe whose members have been targeted by militant groups in the past.

Fleeing IDPs

As military planes continued to attack suspected militant hideouts in North Waziristan, evacuation of thousands of civilians from affected areas has become a major challenge for the government.

Read more: Evacuation of civilians a major challenge for govt

A handout issued in Peshawar said that the district administration would make school buildings of the Elementary & Secondary Education Department in Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Karak and Hangu districts available for accommodating IDPs from areas affected by the military operation.

Photo of Bannu IDPs returning, by Author

Photo by Author