PESHAWAR: Two women and three children of a family were killed when a mortar shell hit their vehicle in Bara Tehsil’s Shalobar area on Friday, DawnNews reported.

One person was also injured in the mortar strike.

Security forces have been preparing for a grand operation against militants in the area and the locals in this regards were directed by authorities to vacate the area, the deadline for which expired on Thursday.

The vehicle was leaving the area when it was struck by the shell fired by security forces. Security forces were engaged in an exchange of gunfire with supporters of militants in the area when the attack took place.

Security forces have been trying to clear the area of militants for three years. Two to three thousand people have fled the area and those left behind are considered to be militants’ supporters.

Exchange of gun-fire occurs frequently between alleged sympathisers and security forces.