KALAYA/LADHA, Sept 14: Three people, including a Jamaat-i-Islami leader, were injured in a roadside blast in lower Orakzai Agency on Friday.

A bomb planted along the road near central mosque in Khialimat village of Utmankhel area exploded by a remote control at 3:10pm just after Friday prayers.

The blast injured agency chief of JI Raj Mohammad, levies force’s Mohammad Khan and local resident Akhtar Muneer. They all were taken to DHQ Hospital in Kalaya area.The levies force’s personnel rushed to the blast site and began rescue work.

Sources said a patrol of the levies forces that crossed the place shortly before the blast was the apparent target. They said explosives weighing five kilogrammes were used in blast, which damaged some shops.

In Shakai area of South Waziristan Agency, religious scholar Maulana Lal Mohammad narrowly escaped a predawn explosion outside his house on Friday.

Sources aid improvised explosive device exploded at the main gate of the house of Mr Mohammad, a close aide of JUI MNA Maulana Abdul Malik, at around 3:00am.

They said the blast damaged the main gate and a portion of the boundary wall, but caused no harm to human life.

Sources said Mr Mohammad arranged a function at the house a few days ago in the honour of MNA Malik and the explosion might have a link with it.

The explosion triggered panic among local residents.

Militants groups have threatened to attack local politicians and residents over participation in elections.

In Chanda area of Haleemzai tehsil in Mohmand Agency, blast of an improvised explosive device targeted the vehicle of Baizai peace committee on Friday.

The blast partially damaged the vehicle, but caused to harm to human life.

Security forces later inspected the place, conducted a search operation and arrested seven suspects.

The suspects were shifted to Mohmand Rifles headquarters in Ghalanai area.

Security forces also defused an IED in Nasapai area of Haleemzai tehsil.

Meanwhile, a mentally challenged man suffered critical injures in Landi Kotal on Friday after security officials took him for a militant and opened fire at him.

Sources said the incident took place near a check post in Qambarabad area where security officials fired gunshots at the man person approaching them despite repeated warnings.

They said the injured man had been shifted to a local hospital.