Security forces' mortars kill eight in northwest Pakistan

Peshawar, Mar 12 : At least eight people, including a child were killed when mortars fired by security forces hit a house in northwest Pakistan.

The mortar incident took place in the Bajaur tribal agency overnight after a roadside bomb hit a paramilitary vehicle, deputy local administration chief Jamil Khan said.

"They fired mortars at militant positions in retaliation for the IED (improvised explosive device) blast but one of them hit a house in Nawagai area of Bajaur," Khan told a foreign news agency.

"Eight people were killed including a child. One died in hospital today. Another six people were wounded," he said.

However, the state media said that the cause of deaths was a five-hour firefight that sparked when militants armed with rocket launchers and arms attacked a rescue team sent to assist the team hit by the roadside bomb.

ANI