KHAR, Dec 1: Three militants were killed and three others injured in two encounters between the local Taliban and Bajaur Scouts personnel here on Saturday. Officials said a group of armed Taliban went to a market in Khar in a pick-up. The Bajaur Scouts personnel encircled them and asked them to lay down arms, but they refused and hurled a grenade and opened fire on the scouts.

The security personnel retaliated and in the exchange of fire, one of the militants was killed. The other militants fled, leaving behind his body.

Political Agent Shafeerullah Khan told Dawn that the killed militant had two identity cards in different names — Saeedullah and Ayaz — and he belonged to South Waziristan. The authorities handed over his body to the local Taliban leadership. The militants’ pick-up was impounded.

In the second incident, the scouts signalled a pick-up carrying armed Taliban in the Inayat Kallay area to stop but they lobbed a grenade on the security men, officials said.

They added that the scouts opened fire on the pick-up, killing two men and injuring three others. One of the dead men was identified as Sherzada. The injured were taken to hospital.

Local people said tension gripped the area after the encounters and bazaars in the agency were closed.