The policemen were injured while trying to defuse an IED on the Indus Highway. -File Photo

PESHAWAR At least seven policemen and a tractor driver were injured in a blast while defusing a remote controlled improvised explosive device on the Indus Highway in Kohat.
 
The police media cell said that rescue 15 received a telephone call stating that a suspicious gas cylinder was lying on the roadside in Guddi Banda on the Indus Highway (Kohat-Bannu road).

A bomb disposal squad was sent to the scene where they found that a 10 kilograms remote controlled bomb, also fitted with a timer, had been placed by some terrorists to target police and military convoys.

The bomb disposal squad was defusing the multi system explosive device when it went off.

Rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the scene, which shifted all the injured to the KDA divisional headquarter hospital for treatment. The condition of all the victims was stable, hospital sources said.

The deputy inspector general of police, Kohat, Abdullah Khan, district coordination officer, Kohat, Siraj Ahmed and other high police officials visited the injured policemen and directed the medical staff to provide them the best available treatment.

They also informed the injured that the chief minister NWFP, Ameer Haider Khan Hoti had expressed sympathy with them and their families and announced compensation for them. -DawnNews