MIRAMSHAH: Tribal elders handed over to the political authorities on Wednesday heads of two soldiers who had been killed during clashes with militants in North Waziristan.

The tribal elders led by Maulvi Gul Ramazan held talks with the militants at an unspecified place. The militants returned the heads but refused to hand over the vehicle and guns.

Sources said the militants had taken away the heads, several weapons and a vehicle on Sunday after the gunfight with security forces in Kharwani area near Miramshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan. Twelve soldiers, 10 civilians and 17 militants were killed in the gunbattle.

The bodies of three of the soldiers had been handed over to the authorities on Monday, they added.

Officials said the military authorities had asked the elders to ensure return of the missing heads, along with the vehicle and weapons.

MARKET BOMBED: The body of a man was recovered from a market in Miramshah, which was bombed during clashes on Tuesday night. Residents feared that seven bodies were still under the debris. Security forces fired artillery and mortars on Tuesday night. One shell hit a house in Kherwazay area, injuring two women and two children.

One woman and a child were stated to be in a critical condition.