MIRAMSHAH, Jan 13: Army and paramilitary troops in a crackdown against suspected militants demolished three mud-houses in Eisokhel village near Mirali, 25 kilometres east of the North Waziristan Agency headquarters, on Friday. Troops besieged the village and blocked the main road before launching the operation.

Eyewitnesses said that security personnel besieged the village and conducted house-to-house searches. Later, they blew up three mud-houses which were said to be the hideouts of suspected militants.

The mud-houses belonged to Zabeehullah, Habib Noor and another tribesman whose name could not be ascertained.

The three men were suspected of providing shelter to local and foreign militants in the troubled area.

Last week, eight FC men were killed when militants attacked a checkpost in the Eisokhel village.