LAKKI MARWAT: Three students of a seminary were killed when a mortar shell they were playing with exploded in Janikhel town of Bannu district on Monday.

Local residents and police said that the students were playing outside the seminary in Seentanga Janikhel area when they found a mortar shell.

They added that the boys took it as a toy and started playing with it but the mortar shell exploded, resulting in their instant death.

The residents identified the deceased as brothers Zeeshan and Wahab, and Alamzeb, residents of Seentanga Janikhel area.

The bodies were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital to complete medico-legal formalities.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident.

Separately, the police on Monday claimed to have repulsed a midnight attack on a police station in Basyakhel area of Bannu.

A police official said a group of militants attacked the police station with automatic and heavy weapons on Sunday night.

He said the assailants also hurled hand grenades at the police station building but the cops deployed there were fully alert and they responded effectively.

The official said that an effective and quick retaliation by police triggered a gun battle, which continued for 20 minutes.

He said the cops effectively engaged the attackers, forcing them to flee.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2024