PESHAWAR, SEPT 12 (DNA) – At least a person killed and four others injured when buried underground ‘old’ Improvised Explosive Device (IED) went off on early Tuesday in the Darpa Khel area of North Waziristan, political administration told media.

According to officials, the explosion took place at a time when the repatriation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) was underway.

The blast occurred in a ground near Al Khalid Public School. The deceased and all injured were local tribesmen.

The local tribesmen were returning to their homes after being displaced for a time period spanning three years in wake of countrywide counter-terror Operation Zarb-e-Azb, which was initiated back in 2014.

The repatriation and clearance operation in the agency have been a bone of contention for the authorities concerned.

However, the major portion of North Waziristan has been cleared.

The political administration of the agency further told the media that around 2,296 families of the Darpa Khel area are expected to be repatriated safely by September 19.