TANK, May 14: A 24-hour curfew was clamped on Tank after a paramilitary soldier and a civilian were killed and 10 others injured in a series of grenade and rocket attacks on law-enforcement personnel and exchange of fire between militants and security forces on Monday

District police officer Mumtaz Tareen confirmed the imposition of curfew in the town bordering the volatile South Waziristan Agency.

Eyewitnesses said some people lobbed a hand grenade on a police mobile and the attack was followed by a heavy exchange of fire between militants and security forces and a rocket explosion in the Wazirabad locality of the city, which injured two Frontier Constabulary men and two local people.

Later, a police checkpoint at the Durand Gate came under attack by militants, killing paramilitary soldier Naseebullah and injuring Abdul Hafeez. Soon after, an armoured personnel carrier was also attacked.

The heavy exchange of fire, which continued till 11am, resulted in the death of a Mahsud tribesman, whose name could not be ascertained, and injuries to seven others. The injured were taken to local hospitals.

The DPO said a meeting of the peace committee, headed by Senator Salih Shah, had been called on Tuesday to discuss the situation.

Sources said the local administration had received threats from militants to set free nine people who had been arrested for their alleged involvement in March riots in the town.

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