Five militants killed in Tirah shelling

Action taken after militants carried out IED attacks on security forces personnel, peace lashkar in Bazar Zakhakhel

PESHAWAR: At least five suspected militants were killed and eight others injured when security forces shelled their hideouts in scattered areas within Khyber Agency’s Tirah valley, during early hours of Wednesday.

As a result of this shelling with artillery, at least four dens of militants were destroyed.

The action was taken after militants carried out Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks on security forces personnel and a peace lashkar in Bazar Zakhakhel – a day earlier on the tenth of Muharram.

Five persons, including four personnel of security forces, were killed and several others were injured in these attacks. Officials and tribal sources said militants first targeted a joint check-post with a remote controlled bomb, killing two soldiers and a peace committee member.

The second IED went off when security personnel assembled at the site for retrieving the dead bodies. One soldier was killed in the second attack.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2014.