LANDI KOTAL/KOHAT/ KHAR, Feb 2: The driver of an oil tanker was killed and its cleaner received injuries when militants attacked the vehicle in Khyber Agency on Tuesday night.

Sources said that activists of a local militant group, Abdullah Ezaam Brigade, attacked an empty oil tanker in Landi Kotal tehsil of the tribal region at midnight when it was returning from Afghanistan.

The driver of the vehicle, Zar Shad, was killed on spot while its cleaner sustained serious injuries in the attack. The injured cleaner was shifted to a hospital in Peshawar.

In Bara, an abducted tribesman died in the captivity of his kidnappers. Mughal Baz and two other tribesmen were kidnapped by unidentified persons two days ago.

The cause of his death could not be ascertained immediately as his captors have not yet handed over his body to his relatives.

Meanwhile, a jirga of Zakhakhel tribe has secured the release of a militant commander Ghuncha Gul from Lashkar-i-Islam, according to sources.

Ghuncha Gul was kidnapped by LI activists last Thursday along with his three bodyguards from Bazaar Zakhkahel area. He had recently parted ways with LI after developing differences with its self proclaimed chief Mangal Bagh.

Meanwhile, one militant was killed and three others were injured when a tribal lashkar clashed with them in Arakhel area of semi-autonomous tribal region of Frontier Region of Kohat on Tuesday night.

“A volunteer, Abdul Wali, was also injured in the clash, while three fleeing militants were held. The body of the dead militant was taken into custody,” Safarish Khan, a local elder, told Dawn by telephone.

The militants escaped towards the mountains of Darra Adamkhel, from where they had fired rockets and attacked the village, after trading fire with the volunteers of lashkar for more than an hour, he said.

Security forces later pounded hideouts of militants in Darra Adamkhel with artillery from Kohat side to repulse the attackers.

In Bajaur Agency, the houses of 13 wanted militants were destroyed by security forces during a search operation.

Sources said after getting control of strategic locations and consolidating their positions, security forces started search operation in Ghundai and Inzari areas. Thirteen houses of wanted militants were destroyed in these areas.

Meanwhile, life returned to Bajaur region as business centres and government offices were reopened after a three-day curfew.