KHAR, Nov 10: Seven houses were destroyed in a fire caused by short circuit in Nawagai tehsil of Bajaur on the night between Saturday and Sunday.

Local officials said the incident occurred in the mountainous area of Saraki Kandao, 40 kilometers off here. They said a tribesman, Lugman Khan, was killed when he received an electric shock while trying to disconnect electricity from the 11,000KV supply line.

Local people rushed to the house where the fire broke out and started efforts to put out the flame but it quickly spread to other houses, burning to ashes seven more households.

Meanwhile, the people demanded of the political administration to provide financial assistance to the affected people. They also demanded of Wapda high ups to immediately shif t the supply line from the residential area.

IED DEFUSED: The local administration on Sunday defused an explosive device planted along a road in Yousaf Abad area of Khar tehsil.

Officials said that residents of the area informed the authorities about the presence of a suspicious pressure cooker. Personnel of Bajaur Levies with the help of members of village defence committee defused the explosive device. The administration launched a search operation in the area to arrest the accused.

WATCHMAN KILLED: Unidentified attackers shot dead a school watchman in Salarzai tehsil on the night between Saturday and Sunday. Of ficials said that the watchman, Mohammad Zahir Khan, was on duty at the government primary school, Giary, when unidentified armed men entered the school and shot him dead.

The members of village defence committee and local people started search for the attackers.-Correspondent