LAKKI MARWAT / D.I. Khan: One person died and two others sustained injuries in an explosion in Bakkakhel town of Bannu district on Sunday.

The blast took place hours after suspected militants attacked a checkpoint within the jurisdiction of Kulachi police station.

According to officials, a motorcycle fitted with an improvised explosive dev­ice (IED) was parked on a road in the Mandi market area which went off with a loud bang.

The blast damaged some shops and vehicles in the market, the official added.

The body and the injured were moved to a local hospital.

The dec­e­ased has been identified as Khoon Muhammad while the injured included Arifullah and Raheed­ullah from the Narmikhel area of Bakkakhel.

The explosion took place a day after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) police chief visited the district.

Police have cordoned off the area and a search operation has been launched.

Constable injured in D.I. Khan

A police constable was injured in an exchange of fire with militants who attacked the Rorri checkpoint within the remit of Kulachi police station late Saturday night, district police confirmed.

The spokesman for the district police, Syed Yaqoob Bukhari told Dawn that unknown militants had stormed the checkpoint.

Police promptly responded leading to an exchange of fire with the militants, Mr Bukhari said.

He added that militants were armed with heavy weapons and rocket launchers.

The exchange of fire lasted for 45 minutes after which militants fled the scene, the spokesman said.

The injured constable has been moved to a hospital.

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2023