SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Four Frontier Corps personnel were martyred and 27 others injured in an attack on their checkpoint in Upper South Waziristan district on Monday evening on Tuesday.

The militants, armed with RPGs and other heavy weapons, attacked the Mami Khel checkpoint located between Tiarza and Ladha tehsils of Upper South Waziristan.

The security personnel posted at the checkpoint retaliated to the attack, and after an intense exchange of gunfire, the attackers escaped under the cover of darkness, according to sources.

The martyrs and the injured personnel were shifted to South Waziristan Scouts Hospital in Wana.

The four martyrs have been identified as Havaldar Nisar Buda Khel, Lance Naik Rasheed Mangal, Lance Naik Irfan and Sepoy Usman Gujjar.

After the attack, security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search for the attackers. Another FC checkpoint in the Zermelan area of Toi Khullah Tehsil was also attacked late on Monday.

The attackers opened fire, resulting in a gun battle with the soldiers posted at the checkpoint. However, no casualties were reported as the militants managed to escape.