Thaindian News

Islamabad, Oct 11 (IANS) Suspected Taliban militants Tuesday fired rockets at a jirga or council of elders in a Pakistani tribal region when the governor of northwestern Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province was scheduled to deliver a speech at the gathering, officials said.

Governor Masood Kausar remained unhurt in the attack at Orakzai tribal region and six people were injured, the officials said, reported Xinhua.

One of the injured was reported critical.

Earlier, officials stated that one person was killed but later they corrected their statement. State and private TV channels also reported one death.

The governor was not at the meeting and was at another meeting when rockets were fired.

The militants fired three rockets at the meeting. One rocket landed near the helipad prepared for the landing of the governor’s helicopter.

The second landed at the public meeting, causing panic among the participants. The third landed in an open field. Some sources said that five rockets were fired.

The security forces used artillery to bomb positions of the militants from where the rockers were fired. There was no report of any casualty of the militants.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack. But the authorities blame Taliban for such attacks. Taliban militants are active in Orakzai, the only tribal region which does not have borders with Afghanistan.

Security officials say that Taliban militants from other regions have taken shelter in Orakzai agency after major military operations.

The security forces have carried out several operations against the militants in Orakzai agency, clearing most of the areas of the militants. But the militants are now operating from the remote mountainous areas.