Militants free 130 more troops in Swat

SWAT—The militants on Saturday released 130 more security personnel who surrendered before them on Friday night while tehsil KwaZakhele, Matta and Charbagh remained under their siege.
Private TV Channel while quoting Maulana Siraj-u-Din, Spokesman Maulana Fazlullah said that the released troops had surrendered voluntarily on Friday night because we assured them that they would be allowed to return to their homes safely. Now we have no soldier in custody, he added.
Earlier, the militants surrounded and disarmed 48 paramilitary soldiers on Thursday, who were released on Friday.
On the other hand, the major part of the scenic valley remained under the control of Fazlullah and his followers. The militants were openly patrolling Matta, Charbagh and KwaZakhele and checking the movement of vehicles and the people.
Following the surrender of the security personnel, the militants took over the police station in Matta area and seized the armoured carrier vehicle of troops in KwaZakhele.
Meanwhile, the Bazaars in Mingora, Matta and KwaZakhele have started opening after closure for many days due to ongoing clash between the security forces and militants. The Bazaars were reopened as a result ceasefire brokered by local scholars and dignitaries, who held talks with the militants, the sources said.
Law and order situation has started improving after the reopening of Bazaars and shops in the aforementioned areas. The people of the area have rushed to the Bazaars to buy the essential commodities and necessary items.
Local Taliban claimed Saturday that they had captured 100 more security personnel, a day after they released 48 captives in valley of Swat.
“We did not want unnecessary bloodshed, and that is why we assured them that they would be allowed to return to their homes safely if they surrender,” said militant spokesman Maulana Sirajuddin.
He said the captives would be released before the media later in the day. The 100 troops, mainly police officers, were under siege since Oct 26 at a police station and hospital in the Matta area, after clashes erupted there following deployment of additional troops to curb a rebellion by radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah.
Hundreds of heavily armed extremists exchanged heavy fire with the security forces, which pounded their positions in the mountains with artillery fire. Helicopter gun ships were used in the firefight, which left more than 200 people dead including dozens of government troops. The militant spokesman said the resistance was totally indigenous at the moment.
“We have not yet asked our brothers in tribal areas and Afghanistan for help,” Sirajuddin said.—Agencies