LANDI KOTAL, June 29: Bodies of five civilians were recovered from Alamgudar locality of Bara tehsil in Khyber Agency on Friday.

The security forces had claimed on Thursday night that they killed three suspected militants during a search operation in Qambarabad where militants targeted an army vehicle with a remote-controlled explosive device, killing eight soldiers, including a captain.

Bullet-riddled bodies of three local residents, including Ubaidullah of Karigar Garhi (Sipah tribe), Tahir Qambarkhel and Khan Mir Qambarkhel, were found near Alamgudar on Friday morning. Local sources said that all the three were watchmen at the house of a Sipah elder Haji Mir Badshah, which was located close to the site of attack on military vehicle.

They said that all the victims were non-combatants with no affiliation with any militant group and also they did not pose any resistance during the search operation by the forces. Volunteers of Al-Khidmat Foundation handed over the bodies to their relatives after they were removed from Alamgudar.

In the same locality, beheaded bodies of two more persons were found by residents.

Sources said that the two were residents of Bazidkhel village in Peshawar and identified as Munir Khan and Inamullah. Nobody has so far claimed responsibility for their killing.

PRISONERS ON STRIKE: Three under-trial prisoners went on an indefinite hunger strike at Landi Kotal lockup on Friday against their incarceration.

Relatives of two brothers, Akhtar Hussain and Fida Hussain, told Dawn that they were arrested on murder charges two weeks ago and released after submitting surety bonds with the local administration.

However, both were again arrested two days ago on charges that they were wanted to commandant of Khyber Rifles for allegedly committing murder on the army land.

Another prisoner Qismat Ali of Sultankhel area was arrested by the local administration on suspicion of having links with militant groups.

His relatives, however, contended that he was declared ‘white’ after undergoing interrogation in Peshawar a few weeks ago.

All the three went on hunger strike against what they called their illegal confinement by the political administration.

Local officials, however, claimed that while Mr Akhtar and his brother had murdered a local person over a land dispute at daytime, Mr Ali was accused of demanding ransom from wealthy people in the name of Taliban.