KALAYA, May 20: Eleven people, among them six suspected militants, were killed in a car bomb blast and artillery shelling by security forces in Orakzai tribal region on Friday, sources said.

A double-cabin vehicle was on its way to Sadda in Kurram Agency from Mamozai, a stronghold of the Taliban. When the vehicle reached near the border area of Ghunza a bomb fitted with it went off with a big bang, killing five occupants and destroying the vehicle, according to the sources.

The dead were identified as Rasool Jan, Idrees Jamal, Haider Zaman, Bilal and Akbar Zaman Afridi, the driver. A Taliban spokesman in the area, Hafiz Seed criticised the blast and said stern action would be taken against those behind the attack.

Security forces targeted militant positions in Khadezai area with artillery fire, killing six suspected militants. Two hideouts were destroyed.—Our Correspondent