KOHAT/NOWSHERA, June 1: Three people were injured in Hangu Bazaar on Friday after an improvised explosive device and mortar shells placed in a handcart exploded.

The injured, Attaullah, Iftikhar Hussain and an unidentified man, who were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital, were stated to be out of danger.

The blast partially damaged two shops and a bank.

Soon after the blast, police cordoned off the area, while bomb disposal squad collected evidence.

The area was later declared safe and opened to people.

Police registered a case against unidentified people under the Anti-Terrorism Act and began investigation.

A police official said initially inquiry suggested that the blast was an act of sectarian violence meant to cause panic in the restive region.

Also in the day, police recovered a kidnapped businessman, Shahzad, from Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan terror camps in Ghuarazai area of Lachi tehsil.

The camps located on mountains were later destroyed. However, no arrests could be made.

The district police officer had ordered the businessman’s recovery.

In Nowshera, a police mobile van on Friday narrowly escaped a militant attack near Rashakai Interchange.

DSP (Nowshera Circle) Riaz Khan told reporters that militants had planted explosives along Nowshera-Mardan Road and they exploded when the van passed by.

He said the van and people riding it remained safe in the attack.

Risalpur police later registered a case against unidentified militants and began investigation. However, no arrest could be made until the last reports came in.

Also in the day, Risalpur police recovered 60kg hashish from a car and arrested its driver.

Police said driver Sabir Shah, of Charsadda, was on his way to Punjab.

They said the car was seized, while the driver was being interrogated.