Gunmen kill five in Tirah valley attack

BARA: Five tribesmen were killed and one more sustained injuries when unidentified assailants opened fire on them in Tirah valley in Khyber Agency, sources said on Wednesday.

The sources said that some people belonging to the Zakhakhel tribe was on their way when they came under attack in Kamarkhel area.

They said five persons in the group were killed on the spot and one sustained injuries in the attack. The attackers managed to escape after committing the crime. Soon after the incident, the security forces launched search operation in the area, but no arrest was made.

The bodies of the slain tribesmen and the wounded person were taken to the nearest healthcare centre. Three of the dead were identified as Jalaki Khan, Lawar Gul and Hawandi Khan.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the locals said the inhabitants of Bazaar Zakhakhel have been supporting the security forces in the fight against the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) in the Tirah valley and these two outlawed militant groups could be behind the attack. “It could be the handiwork of the anti-peace elements,” said a local tribesman who asked not to be named.

He said most of the dwellers of Tirah have properties in both the upper and lower parts of the Tirah valley. “Such attacks often take place when the tribespeople travel to other areas to meet their relatives,” he added.