ALPURI/LANDI KOTAL, Sept 20: An alleged terrorist died after the explosives he was carrying went off accidentally in the mountainous Ponyal area of Shangla district on Friday.

DSP (Circle) Mohammad Alam and DSP (Headquarters) Bakht Raj Khan told Dawn that the incident occurred when Afzal Khan, 18, carrying an explosive device and two grenades in a shopping bag slipped down an uneven passageway.

They said the alleged terrorist died on the spot.

Mr Alam and Mr Raj said police wanted the alleged terrorist, a resident of Bagoshah area, for the May 2013 killing of DSP Bahdar Khan in Puran Aloch. They said Sheikh Mohammad, brother of the alleged terrorist, had already been in police custody for planning to plant explosives on Chakisar Road.

In Landi Kotal Bazaar, security forces on Friday arrested five suspected militants.

Shopkeepers in the bazaar said the forces cordoned off the mobile market and arms market before conducting a search operation at around 11:00am.

They said the forces also suspended traffic on the main Torkham Road causing a traffic jam for several hours after the search operation was completed. Sources said the force picked up five people during the search operation and shifted them to the army camp near the bazaar.