KALAYA/PARACHINAR, Jan 6: Six militants, including three commanders, were killed and four others received injuries in clashes with volunteers of a tribal lashkar in Orakzai tribal region on Thursday.

Sources said that the clashes erupted when volunteers attacked the hideouts of militants in Saifal Dara area. The area is considered a stronghold of Taliban militants. According to lashkar chief, Salamat Khan Orakzai, light and heavy weapons were used during the clashes from both sides. He claimed that militants suffered heavy losses as volunteers captured several bunkers from them.

Meanwhile, tribal elders and religious scholars have termed torching of goods loaded vehicles in an attack on the convoy of security forces on the main road near Durrani area of lower Kurram as a plot to vitiate peaceful atmosphere of the tribal region.

In a joint statement tribal elders including Malak Haji Saleem, Malak Hayat Khan, Malak Gul Mehmood, Malak Haji Nabat Khan, Malak Mehbub Ali, Malak Abdul Wali and Malak Saifullah Khan Masozai condemned torching of trucks loaded with goods.

About 20 vehicles in the convoy loaded with edibles and other goods were torched by militants on the main Parachinar Road on Wednesday.

They demanded stern action against the perpetrators. “Some elements of vested interest are bent upon creating law and order situation. At this moment when the tribal jirga is engaged in negotiations with various stakeholders for durable peace in the region these elements have come out to disrupt the peace process,” they added.

Meanwhile, addressing a joint press conference in Parachinar leaders of Tanzeem Ulema Kiram described the incident an act of terrorism and demanded operation to smash training centres of militants in the region.

Alama Mohammad Ibrahim Mohammadi, Alama Mohammad Hussain Tahiri, Maulana Jamial Hussain and Maulana Ghaur addressed the press conference.

They said that militants looted and torched vehicles loaded with goods to disturb the peaceful atmosphere of the region. “In the past too Turi tribesmen were targeted in the convoy of security forces. But no action has so far been taken against the attackers,” they said.

They also expressed concern over growing attacks of militant on local people in various areas of the tribal region.

They demanded decisive action against militants to bring peace and tranquility to the region. They said the people of Kurram were suffering for the last four years owing to presence of militants.