Seven students were among 11 people killed and 11 others injured in a bomb blast on a passenger van and gun battle between the security forces and militants in the restive northwest Pakistan today, official said.
The explosion took place inside a passenger van on Kohat Road area in Bazid Khel area of Peshawar district in Khyber Pakthunkhwa.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Najeebur Rehman said that the bomb was planted in a water cooler. The van was en-route from Peshawar to Kohat.
Media spokesperson of Lady Reading Hospital Jamil Shah confirmed the death of seven persons in the blast.
As many 20 passengers were travelling in the van when the blast took place and the deceased and injured have been shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital where emergency has been declared.
Security forces reached the spot and cordoned off the area.
Hospital sources said that two of injured were critical.
Additional Inspector General (AIG) bomb disposal squad Shafqat Malik said that five kilograms of explosive was used in the blast.
Meanwhile, bomb disposal squad defused two bombs weighting 25 kilograms in Peshawar.
In another incident, unknown gunmen opened indiscriminate fire on a police party on the outskirts of Yakatot area of Peshawar. Police retaliated and arrested the attackers.
Police said that a minor girl sustained injuries during the exchange of fire.
In a separate incident, at least four were killed and four other arrested in a clash with security forces in Jani Khel area of Bannu district.
Militants attacked security forces during search operations in Wali Noor Jani Khel area of the restive Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bordering north Waziristan agency.
According to reports, a key Taliban commander was also among the arrested militants. Curfew was imposed during house to house search operation by the forces.
