KOHAT: Four children were killed and three others injured when a bomb exploded in Darobi Banda area of Hangu district on Thursday.

Police said the boys aged between 10 and 12 years were grazing cattle along Kahi road when the bomb went off at about 10.40am, killing Shafiullah, Zahidullah, Mohammad Irshad and Mohammad Hussain on the spot.

The seriously injured boys were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital in Hangu.

Bomb disposal personnel told Dawn that explosives weighing about 10 kilograms had been planted along the road leading to Orakzai Agency.

Soon after the blast, police launched a search for elements behind the blast, but no arrests were made till late night.

Security personnel collected evidence from the site and a case was registered against unnamed terrorists.

The deceased boys were laid to rest in Darobi Banda amid moving scenes.

Meanwhile, the bullet-riddled body of a policeman was found in Shadi Banda area of Kohat on Thursday.

Head Constable Shehzad Mir of the Kohat elite force had been missing since July 11.

SIX KILLED: A roadside bomb killed six people in Hangu, according AP news agency.

Police official Abid Khan said a smaller bomb exploded first, causing no casualties, and that the larger bomb went off after bystanders had gathered at the scene.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2014