PARACHINAR, Sept 8: Two militants were injured when security forces opened fire on a suspected vehicle in Bagun area of Kurram Agency on Thursday, officials said.

They said that security forces were providing escort to 300 passengers going from Parachinar to Peshawar when armed persons travelling in a suspected car approached the convoy from the opposite direction. When it reached Bagun area, the soldiers opened fire on the vehicle.

They said that two militants were injured in the firing. The suspected persons along with their wounded accomplices abandoned the vehicle and ran away, they added.

Sources said that the attackers belonged to the group of militant commander Mohammad Ayub.

Meanwhile, one person was killed and seven others were injured in two different incidents in upper and lower Kurram.

In the first incident, armed men opened firing on a vehicle near Alizai and injured two persons identified as Nasir Hussain and Hadi Hussain.

In another incident, one person was killed and five others were injured in a clash between the residents of Boshara and Malikhel areas. A resident of Boshara was killed while five others received injuries in the clash.

Security forces fired artillery shells from their base in Parachinar to end the clash.

Meanwhile, a body was found in Chappari area of lower Kurram Agency on Thursday.

Officials said that deceased belonged to upper Kurram Agency, however, his identity could not be established. The deceased was kidnapped from the main road few days ago.

The body was hanging from an electricity pole near a security checkpost. A cellular phone number was also inscribed on the body. The body was sent to Parachinar for identification.

In South Waziristan Agency, security forces blew up five houses near Wana on Thursday and arrested 20 tribesmen under Frontier Crimes Regulation.

Sources said that security forces backed by helicopters besieged houses in Manrh, Sholam and Raghzai areas and conducted a search operation. They said that 20 people were arrested under territorial responsibility clause of FCR and were shifted to Brigade Headquarters at Zari Noor colony for interrogation.

After search operation soldiers destroyed five houses with dynamites. Sources said that a convoy of security forces was attacked on Wana-Angoor Adda Road three days ago. One soldier was killed and two others were injured in the attack.

They said that administration took action under FCR because it was the responsibility of tribesmen to prevent such incidents in their area. However, locals said that authorities had arrested innocent people, who had nothing to do with the attack on security forces.

Meanwhile, an explosion caused partial damage to a health unit in Tanai area near Wana on Wednesday night.

In Shangla district, police claimed to have recovered a cache of arms, dumped at a hilltop by suspected militants in Charsar area, on Thursday.

The arms include seven mortar shells and 13 hand grenades.

Opinion

Editorial

Punishing evaders
02 May, 2024

Punishing evaders

THE FBR’s decision to block mobile phone connections of more than half a million individuals who did not file...
Engaging Riyadh
Updated 02 May, 2024

Engaging Riyadh

It must be stressed that to pull in maximum foreign investment, a climate of domestic political stability is crucial.
Freedom to question
02 May, 2024

Freedom to question

WITH frequently suspended freedoms, increasing violence and few to speak out for the oppressed, it is unlikely that...
Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.