MIRAMSHAH, Oct 23: Heavy shelling by security forces left three civilians dead and 25 others, including women and children, wounded in Miramshah on Monday night.

The killing of non-combatants sparked protests in the area and thousands of people blocked roads and placed coffins in front of the press club to express their anger. Protesters were chanting slogans against security forces.

Residents said that after an incident of firing at the Amin Checkpost in Miramshah by unidentified men on Monday night, security forces fired back using light artillery and heavy machineguns.

They said several villages, including Zafar Town, Srai Depakhe, Datakhel and Machus Camp, had come under attack.

Witnesses said that mortar shells hit a residential compound which left Khwaja Mohammad, his son Jan Mohammad and one Ghaffar Khan dead.

According to reports reaching here, 25 people, women and children among them, were injured and five of them were stated to be in critical condition.

The injured were taken to the agency headquarters hospital.

Thousands of armed people assembled in the Miramshah bazaar on Tuesday and blocked the main road leading to the Bannu district. The road remained closed for about four hours. Angry tribesmen ended their protest after talks with the political administration.