MIRAMSHAH, Oct 20: Four children and three women were injured when mortar shells hit their houses at Machas Camp and its surrounding areas in North Waziristan Agency on Saturday.

Sources said that security forces started shelling Machas Camp and adjoining areas after militants attacked a security checkpost. Both theattackers, riding a motorcycle, were killed by security forces in retaliatory fire.

Security forces imposed curfew in the area and targeted hideouts of militants in Machas Camp area.

Three children and two women were injured when a mortar shell hit their house at Machas Camp, sources said, adding a grade IX studentidentified as Zabihullah and a woman suffered wounds when another shell hit their houses.

The residents of the area said that they remained in their houses owing to imposition of curfew. The schools, colleges, offices, bazaars and markets remained closed on Saturday. People could not take the injured to hospitals owing to imposition of curfew, they added.

On the other hand, hundreds of people in the surrounding areas vacated their houses for safer places owing to shelling. Scores of vehicles were parked along the roadside waiting for relaxation in the curfew to reach their destinations.