CHARSADDA, Jan 15: Eleven shops were destroyed when militants blew up a cell phone market at main Shabqadar bazaar on the outskirts of Charsadda on Thursday.

Militants planted improvised explosives device at the two main markets -- Mobile Market and Sianara Khan Market -- in the small hours of Thursday. Police after getting information rushed the site and cordoned off the entire area.

Police also called bomb disposal squad which succeeded in defusing the bomb in Mobile Market but they could not defuse the explosive at Sianara Khan Market where it went off with a big bang destroying eleven shops.

The destroyed market had no CD shop while there are two CD shops at the Mobile Market.

No group has claimed responsibility for the incident so far.

It may be recalled that several CD shops were reopened at various markets of the region after military operation in Shabqadar and its adjoining areas including Michni. The recent incident has created panic among the businessmen particularly the owners of the CDs and cell phone centres. — Correspondent