SWABI, Nov 14: An explosive device planted near a girls’ primary school in Adina, some 18km west of here, went off on Wednesday morning, damaging its boundary wall and windows.

No group has claimed responsibility for the blast, but about 10 days ago a letter sent

by the local Tehrik-i-Taliban to non-governmental organisations and schools run by them, video

centres and internet cafes in the district had asked them to wind up their activities and businesses.

Police confirmed that the letter had warned teachers and students of girls’ schools to wear burqa or thick chador and asked women not to go to markets. Parents were asked to stop sending their daughters to schools.

The school in Adina has been built by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.