KALAYA, March 12: Eight militants were killed and three soldiers suffered injuries during exchange of fire in upper tehsil of Orakzai Agency on Saturday, officials said.

They said that militants attacked a checkpost in Ghelju area and injured three soldiers. The injured soldiers were identified as Gul Mohammad, Shireen and Hayat. Eight militants were killed in the retaliatory firing by security forces, they added. One vehicle was also destroyed during exchange of fire between security forces and militants. A spokesman for militants, Hafiz Saeed, told journalists by phone that they had carried out successful attack but denied official claims regarding killing of eight militants.—Correspondent