CD shops and general stores were destroyed when explosive devices went off in three markets of the Bakhshali village.—Photo by AP

MARDAN Seventeen CD shops and two general stores were destroyed when explosive devices went off in three adjacent markets of the Bakhshali village, 10 kilometres from here, late Thursday night.
 
An explosion in the Mir Afzal Market destroyed 11 CD shops and two general stores.

Four CD shops were destroyed in a blast in another adjacent market and three shops were destroyed in the nearby Waleed Market.

The markets' watchman, Ameer Khan, told the Choora police that 26 armed people came to the markets in the midnight and planted explosives at different places after tying him with rope. Minutes later, he added, the explosive devices were set off.

According to District Police Officer Waqif Khan, local militants were involved in the incident. He said police had arrested some suspects, who were being interrogated.