MIRANSHAH: A 14-year-old boy was critically injured in a landmine blast in Dattakhel tehsil of North Waziristan tribal district on Wednesday.

Official sources said the boy, Abdullah was grazing his cattle outside his home when he stepped over a landmine planted by unknown miscreants. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The sources said Abdullah lost his one leg in the blast.

Landmines have claimed several lives and caused injuries to many others recently in the tribal districts, particularly in Waziristan region.

One June 25, a child lost her life and three others were injured in a landmine blast in North Waziristan. Local sources said the incident happened near Dabray Pull in Patikhel village in Hamzoni. The sources said children belonging to same family were playing outside their home when one of them stepped over a landmine. A little girl lost her life in the incident, while three others were injured.

On June 14, a security personnel lost his life in a landmine explosion in South Waziristan. Official sources said a soldier was coming back to his check post after repairing a water pipeline in Sra Rogha tehsil when he stepped on a landmine. The deceased Frontier Corps (FC) personnel was identified as Ayazuddin.

The security forces have cleared landmines from many areas, but the threat still exists and casualties from landmine blasts are reported regularly.

The militants while leaving the tribal districts after military operations planted several landmines which have trapped several people so far. This led of an uneasy situation in the region and people demanded clearing of these landmines. People in the Waziristan region say their areas are still littered with landmines and improvised explosive devices.

Meanwhile, one person lost his life and another was injured in a fight between friends in Shewa area of Mir Ali sub-division.

Official sources said three friends Waheedullah, Raziq Gul and Sabihullah from Miami Kabalkhel had gone for outing in Shezaka area where they indulged in scuffle due to unknown reasons. The scuffle turned violent and they hit each other with sharp-edged weapons.

The sources said Waheedullah died on the spot in the fight, while Riaz sustained critical injuries.