KALAYA/GHALANAI: Four persons received injuries in a roadside blast in lower tehsil of Orakzai Agency on Tuesday.

Officials said that a car was going from the tribal agency to Kacha Paka area in Kohat when it was targeted by a roadside bomb. Four persons, travelling in the car, were injured in the blast, they said.

The injured were identified as driver Mohammad Janan, Shahid Hussain, Karim Ali and Amin Ali. They were shifted to a local hospital for treatment.

The security forces reached the area soon after the incident and launched a search operation. The security personnel arrested several suspects and shifted them to undisclosed location for interrogation.

In Mohmand Agency, all bazaars remained closed on the second consecutive day after security forces made announcements through loudspeakers, asking people to vacate the bazaars.

“We were told to vacate the entire bazaar and go to our homes. We do not know reason behind this,” said a shopkeeper in Ekkaghund Bazaar.

The bazaars in Ghalanai, Ekkaghund, Mian Mandi, Ghazi Baig, Qandahri and Lakaro were closed after the announcement by the security forces. However, Peshawar-Bajaur Road remained open to traffic.

It is pertinent to mention here that security forces have imposed ban motorcycle riding in the entire agency. Security has also been beefed up at all entry and exit points of the agency.

Private schools also in Mian Mandi Bazaar also remained closed on Tuesday. The local people faced difficulties in getting daily use items owing to closure of the bazaars.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2014