WANA: Three security personnel were killed and two others injured when their vehicle hit a landmine in the Gul Kacha area of Toi Khula tehsil, 30km from South Waziristan Agency’s headquarters, on Monday.

Local political administration officials said that the personnel were on routine patrol when their vehicle hit the landmine. The dead and the injured were taken to the Wana Scouts Camp from where the bodies were sent to native towns of the deceased for burial.

The officials said that security forces launched a search operation in the area soon after the incident, but no arrest was made till late evening.

The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.

Gul Kacha is a peaceful area where writ of the government faces no challenge. It is populated by Dotani and Sulemankhel tribes.

Published in Dawn February 14th, 2017