BAJAUR: Two women sustained injuries after a mortar shell fired from an undisclosed location hit a village in Salarzai tehsil here on Monday.

Officials and residents told Dawn that the mortar shell hit mountainous Kadook village at about 6am.

According to official report of Salarzai police station, the incident left two women wounded. The report, a copy of which is available with Dawn, stated that the wounded women, identified as Zahida Bibi, 31, and Tajrehan Bibi, 51, were taken to the tehsil headquarters hospital in Pashat for treatment.

Israr Khan, a spokesperson for the district police, told this correspondent that both the wounded women were later shifted to the district headquarters hospital, Khar, adding that their condition was stated to be out of danger.

Israr Khan further said that investigation was under way into the incident to identify those behind it. He said a team from Salarzai police station was rushed to the scene to collect the evidence and information from locals to ascertain the location from where the mortar had been fired.

Also on Monday, unidentified assailants shot dead a man in Khar bazaar. Police and traders said the incident occurred in the busy Shingas market at about 11am after unknown gunmen opened fire on Niaz Muhammad.

DSP Khar circle Saidur Rehman told reporters that 59-year-old Niaz Muhammad was critically wounded in the attack and died at the district headquarters hospital in Khar during treatment. He said the police were investigating the incident to trace the assailants and their motive, adding the attackers managed to flee the scene.

Meanwhile, the incident triggered the local business community to stage a protest demonstration against it. Scores of shopkeepers and social activists attended the demonstration held at the main chowk soon after the killing. The demonstrators condemned the incident and termed it unacceptable and intolerable.

The demonstration, which later turned into a sit-in, was addressed by Khar Traders Association president Wajid Ali Shah, general secretary Sajad Khan Karwan and others, who described the incident as a failure of the authorities concerned.

The protesting traders, who blocked the road at the main chowk for some time, also slammed the police personnel present at the bazaar allegedly for not making efforts to trace the assailants.

The demonstrators later ended the protest with a warning that they would hold a massive protest demonstration if the security situation in Khar bazaar did not improve.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2026