PESHAWAR, May 13: At least eight persons were injured in a blast near a police checkpost at a cattle market on Ring Road on the outskirts of Peshawar on Sunday.

The explosion occurred at 10:15am when people were busy in routine activities at the cattle market, Superintendent of Police Shafiqullah Khan told journalists at the blast site.

He said that the bomb was packed in a pressure cooker that was planted near the checkpost and detonated through a remote control device.

The blast destroyed four vehicles and killed several animals in the cattle market besides injuring eight persons.

An official of Bomb Disposal Unit said that the improvised explosive device weighed about five kilograms.

It also contained ball bearing, he added.

Another official said that seven to eight policemen were deployed at the checkpost when the blast took place. The post was completely destroyed, however, the policemen remained unhurt, he added.

The SHO of Chamkani police station said that policemen from other areas reached the blast site on time to take part in rescue operation and shift injured to hospital.

Officials believed that the recent attacks on police in Peshawar could be retaliation of the ongoing military operation in Bara area of Khyber Agency.

“The explosive device was like other bombs exploded in parts of Peshawar during the past few days. It means that a single group is involved in attacks on police,” said the official of Bomb Disposal Unit.

The injured were identified as 12-year-old Sohail, Bashir Mohammad, Abdul Hassan, Akhtar Nabi, Sabir Hussain, Mohammad Alam, Shahzeb and Ghulam Hussain.

The injured were rushed to Lady Reading Hospital by the workers of Rescue 1122, Edhi Foundation and Al-Khidmat Foundation. Hospital sources said that three of them were in critical condition.

Several blasts have taken place in Peshawar during the past few days. A policeman was killed and 17 persons were injured on Saturday when a police van was targeted by a remote controlled bomb in Gulbahar area of Peshawar.

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Mohammad Akbar Khan Hoti has directed his subordinate officers to take practical steps for restoration of peace and hitting hard terrorists in their respective areas.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, the IGP also appealed to people to extend cooperation to local police to avert any untoward incident. He asked police officers to ensure protection to life and property of people. He stressed the need for close liaison between police and people to discourage the anti-state elements.

The IGP asked people to avoid visiting blast sites soon after the explosions. He directed the officials of Bomb Disposal Unit to reach the blat sites on time to collect evidence and clear the area.