MINGORA: At least 17 militants were killed in fierce clashes with security forces in Swat on Monday. A soldier lost his life and two others suffered injuries.
According to military sources, eight militants were killed during an operation in Imam Dherai, the headquarters of Taliban’s Swat chieftain Maulana Fazlullah, and nine in Shah Dherai area of Kabal. The soldier was killed when security personnel came under attack in the area.
The bodies of four tribesmen whose throats had been slit were found in a deserted place in Koza Bandai.
Sources blamed local militants for slaughtering the four men. They were apparently killed for supporting the military operation. Their names could not be ascertained.
In another incident, a local cleric and his nephew were gunned down on Sunday night. Their bodies were found on Monday morning. The cleric was identified as Maulana Fazl Haq.
Meanwhile, about 300 displaced families returning to Matta and Kabal tehsils have been stranded on the Ayub Bridge for three days. They took shelter in a school in Naway Kallay after security forces stopped them from going to their areas because of the search operation.
In Mingora, about 50 per cent of shops and markets have reopened and with a relaxation in curfew, life is limping back to normalcy. A large number of people visited bazaars during the relaxation in curfew.
Iftikhar A. Khan in Islamabad adds: Security forces claimed to have captured two wanted terrorists, Fazal-i-Haq and Khair-ul-Ghafoor, during a search operation in Talgai, near Madyan, in Swat.
Two militant commanders, Taj alias Zarqavi and Zulqarnain, were killed in the village of Gul Shah. Army Major Zahid lost his life during and exchange of fire.
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