TANK, Jan 29: Four people suffered injuries and three vehicles were damaged when a helicopter gunship fired ‘by mistake’ on a convoy of displaced families near the Frontier Region of Jandola on Tuesday.

Sources said that the helicopter fired on vehicles carrying families fleeing the battle-hit Mahsud areas of South Waziristan.

Tribesmen, including women and children have been leaving the South Waziristan region in large numbers due to fierce clashes taking place between security forces and militants.

Many of them have moved to Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, North Waziristan and other areas.

Local people have set up relief centres near the Shoza Bridge where displaced families are being provided food and transport.

Police have set up checkpoints on the Wana-Tank road and are checking the displaced people.

The sources said that skirmishes continued in the troubled area on Tuesday.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that a soldier was killed when insurgents fired on Shishamwan, northeast of Kotkai. Troops returned fire.

The statement said that troops were consolidating their positions in Shishamwan and Tiarza where 12 militants were held.

Unconfirmed reports said the bodies of eight militants had been found in Kotkai.