Four of a family among 16 killed in Bara

BARA: Sixteen people, including four members of a family and 11 militants, were killed in mortar shelling and rocket attacks in the Bara subdivision of the Khyber Agency on Saturday.

The four family members, including a woman and three children, were killed and four others injured when a mortar shell fired by security forces hit a house in Akakhel Ghalmay area. People said the area often came under mortar attacks since the launch of the military operation here. The shells were usually fired by security forces from the Speena Thana area, they added.

Militants fired 17 rockets at the Camp Fort Salop, manned by soldiers of the Frontier Corps, killing one soldier and injuring five others. In retaliation, security forces targeted the militants’ positions with artillery guns in Dora, Landi Killay and Sasoki. Military helicopters also pounded the suspected hideouts of the militants in these areas. Security sources said several hideouts of the militants were destroyed. The forces also claimed to have killed 11 militants, including a would-be suicide bomber, in the Gurgura area, besides destroying four vehicles. One of the vehicles was stuffed with explosives. Link...