12 militants among 18 killed in Swat | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

12 militants among 18 killed in Swat

MINGORA: Amid reports that militants had destroyed a house owned by the ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan in Madyan Chaktari area, 18 more people, including 12 militants and three security forces’ personnel, were killed in different parts of the volatile Swat Valley on Friday.

A press release of the ISPR-run Swat Media Cell (SMC) claimed that 12 militants were killed and many others injured in a clash in Chamtalai area of Khwazakhela Tehsil. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Swat chapter leader Shah Dauran also claimed killing several security forces personnel in the clash.

“Several troops were killed and five vehicles were destroyed in the attack,” he claimed on his illegal FM radio.

The security forces later clamped a curfew in Khwazakhela and started shelling suspected hideouts of militants.

Similarly, two people were killed when unidentified gunmen started indiscriminate firing in Qambar area of Mingora Tehsil. The deceased were identified as Arsalan Khan, a retired ASI, and Sharif Khan, reportedly a relative of Shah Dauran, a TTP commander in Swat.

In another incident, unidentified gunmen dragged Ameer Zeb, a police constable, out of his house in Charbagh and shot him dead. Also, in Alamganj area of Khwazakhela Tehsil, a man identified as Dost Muhammad was killed when a mortar shell allegedly fired by the security forces hit his house.

Curfew remained enforced in Manglawar area for the third consecutive day.

Meanwhile, the militants destroyed a house owned by the ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan in Madyan Chaktari area.

The militants reportedly planted explosives in the house, completely destroying it. No loss of life was reported in the incident as the house had been abandoned by the family of Asfandyar Wali.

In another development, the building and premises of the district courts at Gulkada in Mingora were vacated after rumors of the presence of a suicide bomber there.

Source: The news

Date:1/17/2009