PAN, April 11, 2013

2 children die as rocket hits home in Paktika

The victims had just reached home from school when the rocket struck in the afternoon

By Ali Mohammad Nazari

Two children were killed and as many sustained injuries when a Taliban-fired rocket hit their home in southeastern Paktika province, an official said on Thursday. Elsewhere, a tribal elder was gunned down in northern Takhar province.

A stray rocket hit a civilian house in Walus area of Gyani district, killing two children and injuring as many, all from the same family, said Mukhlis Afghan, the governor’s spokesman.

The victims had just reached home from school when the rocket struck in the afternoon. The injured kids were evacuated to a hospital.

In Takhar, unidentified gunmen shot dead a tribal elder inside his residence late on Wednesday night in the Ahandara area of Taloqan, a police spokesman said.

Abdul Khalil Asir identified the victim as Abdul Hafiz, who was shot to death with a pistol at 8:00 pm. Police suspected personal enmity behind the murder, saying they had arrested three suspects on the basis of a claim made by the victim's family .

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