Upper dir  –  Four children were injured when a hand grenade exploded near the Shahibagh Check Post in the Dobando area of Upper Dir on Friday at around 11am, police and hospital sources said.

According to police sources, the incident occurred within the limits of Dir Police Station, where the children were reportedly playing near the check post when the grenade exploded.The injured were identified as Zohan and Salman, sons of Reham Bacha; Anees, son of Fareed; and Eman, daughter of Dil Mohammad. All four children are residents of Shahibagh, Dobando.Sources said the Shahibagh Check Post had been attacked by suspected militants on the night of August 13. The militants allegedly set the check post on fire about two weeks ago after police hoisted the national flag on the building.

According to local residents, heavy firing continued throughout the night and into the following day, while around 28 policemen were reportedly trapped at the check post. The situation later prompted local residents to leave their homes with weapons. The militants eventually moved towards the nearby mountains, while the policemen were safely evacuated to the Dir police lines, according to the sources.

On Friday, a hand grenade left near the check post exploded while the children were playing nearby, causing minor injuries to all four, hospital sources said.

The injured children were provided medical treatment and later discharged to return to their homes.

Police and other relevant authorities have launched an investigation into the incident and increased security and surveillance in the area.