KHAR, July 4: Four persons were injured when mortar shells were fired at Mamond tehsil in Bajaur Agency by militants from Afghanistan, officials said.

They said that militants fired four mortar shells from Afghanistan at a security checkpost in Manozangal, the border area of Mamond tehsil situated at a distance of about 38 kilometres from the agency headquarters Khar.

“Two mortar shells landed near the security checkpost while two others hit a house in Kaga village, leaving four persons injured critically,” an official said.

He said that the house of a local tribesman was also damaged partially in the attack. Three women were among the injured persons, he added.

The injured were identified as Mohammad Zar, 40, Fari Bibi, 33, Yaseen Bibi, 30, and Ruqia Bibi, 20, the official said.

The volunteers of the peace committee and residents of the area rushed to the site after the attack and shifted the injured to the agency headquarters hospital. Hospital sources said that two of the injured were in critical condition.

The local administration, security forces and volunteers of village defence committee launched a joint search operation in the area after the cross-border attack, however, no arrest was made.

The tribal elders and members of the local peace committees in Mamond strongly condemned the cross-border attack and vowed to retaliate in case of similar attack in the future.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack but the local administration has held militants responsible for the incident.