Four pro-government peace body members injured in Kohat clash

KOHAT: Four members of an anti-militants peace committee were injured in a clash with the security forces during search operation in Oblan area in the limits of the Cantonment Police Station on Tuesday, sources said.
The sources said the security forces were carrying out search and strike operation in Oblan and adjoining areas when the members of the Ahmedzai Peace Committee opened fire on the soldiers. The security forces returned the fire, resulting in injuries to four members of the pro-government peace body, the sources said.
The sources added that the security forces took away five members of the peace committee.The injured were shifted to the Combined Military Hospital in Kohat where one of them was identified as Haji Gul, head of the peace committee. “The clash between the security forces and committee members appeared to be due to a misunderstanding. The peace body members mistook the security forces as the armed men of Bezot tribe with whom they have a long dispute,” a local said.
The report suggested that one soldier was also injured in the clash, but it could not be confirmed through independent sources.Meanwhile, the security forces and police continued raiding the suspected places in Kohat and Karak districts for the safe recovery of two soldiers who were allegedly kidnapped by unidentified gunmen travelling in two pickup trucks near Krappa on Sunday night.
In another development, the police arrested more than 300 suspected persons, including 150 Afghan nationals, living illegally in the district.The police also seized arms from their possession.