Bomb blast: Explosion kills two soldiers in Khyber

KHYBER AGENCY:

Security forces killed 10 suspected militants after a bomb in Khyber Agency killed two soldiers on Friday.

According to an artillery Corps official, soldiers Qaiser and Amanullah were clearing an area to pitch a tent in the Akka Khel region of Bara tehsil, Khyber Agency, when a bomb went off, severely injuring them.  The official said that security forces rushed to the site after the blast and shifted the injured soldiers to the Combined Military Hospital in Peshawar where they succumbed to their wounds.

Security forces clamped a curfew in the area and launched a search operation backed by helicopters gunships. Around 10 militants were killed, and two hideouts were destroyed during the operation.

A woman and a tribesman were shot by security forces for violating the curfew. According to details, after the explosion, security measures were tightened in Akka Khel and tribesmen were told to restrict their movements.

However, a woman came out from her house and despite warnings, did not go back after which a security official shot her. She was taken to the hospital for medical assistance. Meanwhile, in another similar incident, a tribesman was fired at for violating the curfew.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2013.