KHAAR, Feb 5: Two pro-government tribal elders were killed and another was injured when a bomb exploded in the Chaharmang area of Bajaur Agency’s Nawagai tehsil on Monday.

The bomb was detonated by remote control as the two men were walking along a dirt road in the area, AP quoted Mamoor Khan, an area security official, as saying.

Officials told Dawn that Malik Hakmeen Khan and Malik Jabbar Khan died on the spot when the bomb exploded near the Saidashah village, 30 kilometres of the Afghan border. Their friend Azeem Khan was injured. He was taken to the Agency Headquarters Hospital in Khaar, where he is said to be in critical condition.

On the night of Jan 9, some unidentified people had attacked the house of Malik Hakmeen. A close relative of Hakmeen and one of the attackers, who was Afghan, had been killed in the exchange of fire.

Political authorities termed Monday’s incident a result of personal enmity.

Witnesses said the blast was so powerful that it was heard far and wide. They said body parts of the two victims were found scattered over a large area.

Political authorities have registered a case.