MARDAN, June 16: A suspected militant received serious injuries on Saturday when an explosive device went off before he could plant it outside a vocational centre here in Labour Colony on the main Nowshera-Mardan Road.

Suspect Imtiaz Khan, son of Noor Muhammad, who is stated to be a resident of nearby Daman village, was rushed to a local hospital. Later on, he was shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar where his condition is said to be serious.

He received serious injuries including severe damage to one of his arms, said a police official.

At the time of explosion about 30 students were present in the vocational centre which imparts training to women in different skills.

Sources said the centre had received an anonymous letter about a month ago asking its management to order female trainees to observe proper veil (purdah) or be prepared to face consequences.

An FIR has been registered with Mardan City police station. “The investigation is in progress and we have yet to ascertain whether the suspect was linked to any militant outfit,” said a police official.

Our Peshawar Bureau adds: A video/CD shop was blown up on Friday night injuring two passers-by in the Balokhel area on Kohat Road.

The blast severely damaged the shop. The police claimed that unidentified miscreants had planted an explosive device outside the shop which went off with a bang creating panic in the area situated in Bhadabher police station. The passers-by, identified as Jamal and Abid, were taken to hospital where they were discharged after first aid.

This is the third incident of targeting CD shops in Peshawar during the last three months.