LANDI KOTAL, April 26: The security forces on Thursday evening imposed dusk-to-dawn curfew in Bara Sheikhan area in order to prevent entry of suspected militants into Peshawar district.

Local sources said that forces made announcements on loudspeakers on Thursday evening, asking the area residents to remain indoors after evening prayers till dawn.

Residents were warned of shoot at sight if any violation of the curfew restrictions was noticed. They were also told not to entertain any stranger in their localities and inform the forces immediately about the presence of any suspect in the area at any time of the day or night.

The sources said that the night restrictions were imposed after a recent surge in militant attacks against the law-enforcement agencies in the suburbs of Peshawar bordering the tribal region of Bara.

The Shiekhan-Maira where night curfew had been imposed is mostly inhabited by Akakhel, Malikdinkhel, Shalobar and Sipah tribes of Bara along with a few hundred Sheikhan families.

The Akakhels of Bara and Sheikhan have a long running dispute over the ownership rights of the land on the border between Peshawar and Bara.

The area had been a hub of criminal elements in the past and now considered as a hideout of militants who were frequently carrying out attacks on security forces both in Akakhel and on the peripheries of Peshawar.

CHARSADDA BLAST: The house of a bank cashier was partially damaged when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by unknown miscreants went off in Amirabad bridge locality of Charsadda on Friday.

Mandani police said that unknown miscreants had planted the IED near the house of Khurshid Khan, a bank cashier, in Amirabad, which exploded with a bang. As a result, the house was partially damaged. However, no casualty was reported.

Mr Khurshid registered a report with Mandani police against unknown miscreants. He said that he had already received threats from unknown persons, demanding extortion money. Mr Khurshid was also injured in a bomb attack a month ago.

The police reached the area and started search operation.

BOMB DEFUSED: A 16 kilogramme bomb placed in a garbage dump was defused by Shabqadar police here on Friday.

A sweeper of Shabqadar TMA spotted the bomb early in the morning and informed the police. The police reached the spot and defused the bomb.