KALAYA/KHAR, July 27: Seven militants were killed by security forces in Dabori area of Orakzai Agency on Friday.

Sources said security forces targeted four militant hideouts in Janduli and Botakhel villages with heavy artillery and killed seven militants.

They also said sepoy Abdul Malik was injured after a landmine exploded near a convoy of security forces in Gall village of Dabori area.

Sources said the soldier was under treatment at Kalaya hospital.

They said security forces cordoned off the area after the explosion and began a search operation.

In Bajaur Agency’s Salarzai tehsil, the death toll of Thursday’s car bomb blast increased to 15 as three more victims died of critical injuries at a local hospital on Friday.

The bodies were later given to the relevant families for burial.

Besides scores of locals, members and volunteers of anti-militant peace committee also participated in funeral prayers in large numbers.

The peace committee put in place special security checks for funeral over militant threats by deploying scores of armed volunteers.

Tariq Khan, a member of peace committee, said hundreds of volunteers would be deployed near Pak-Afghan border today (Saturday), while more security posts would be established in sensitive areas.

Sources said a grand jirga, where representatives of all local tribes and peace committees, would take place today (Saturday).

They said ways and means to counter militancy, contain cross-border attacks and eliminate pro-militant tribesmen would be discussed by the jirga.

Meanwhile, Khar administration has increased security in the region and planned to deploy hundreds of Bajaur Levies and FC personnel in commercial and sensitive places in the area.

A local official said leaves of Bajaur Levies personnel had been cancelled and that they had been asked to resume duty from Monday.