35 militants killed in fierce battle

SWAT—Over 30 militants are reported to have been killed in the fresh operations of the security forces in Swat district. Besides, one Jawan of the security forces has also been martyred and three others injured. Official sources here revealed that the government forces are using heavy artillery and gunship helicopters in these operations. The security forces have captured some important locations in these operations. These include the villages of Kooza Banday, Bara Banday, Kanju and Mam Dheri.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the Inter Service Public Relations, Major General Waheed Arshad has said that the forces are in control of all exit and entry points of Swat and Shangla districts. The security forces also continue their operation against militant hideouts in and around Shangla district. Reports say that about twenty five militants have been killed and over forty injured during the last two days in Shangla.
Meanwhile, situation is returning to normalcy in Kurram Agency. Political agent of Kurram Agency said that the administration has established full control in the Parachinar city. No untoward incident has taken place since last two days and efforts are underway by the Jirga to resolve the issues between both the rival groups. Thal-Parachinar and Kohat-Thal roads remained closed by the local Government due to fear of clashes.
The NWFP government has decided to establish four relief camps for those coming out of Swat and Shangla districts due to clashes between security forces and miscreants. A government official said here that these camps would be established in Dargai, Bisham, Mardan and Risalpur. He said the government will provide all facilities, including food, water, medicines in these camps.
Hundreds of thousands of residents of the violence affected areas of Swat have been forced to vacate their houses and shift makeshift camps which lack basic necessities in the biting cold. According to local sources, majority of the innocent population, caught in the fighting between security forces and militants, have been forced to live their households at the mercy of thieves in order to save their lives and the lives of their young ones.
The people migrating from their houses have no proper shelters in the biting cold which is another threat to their lives especially the lives of the minors and the aged. The makeshift shelters at a village near Barikot basic facilities like electricity, water supply, edible items, sanitation and toilets are not available to the displaced people. “We have seen images of African people displaced from their homes due to war but now we are facing the same situation,” said an elderly in his comments about the plight of the displaced.
“We have newly constructed our house and were shifted a few weeks before the violence was broken out but now we are forced by our own army to leave that home which was constructed after years of labour and spending hard earn money,” revealed another resident of Koza Bandai.
A man working in the Gulf has left his job and came home because he was worried about his children and family. “I had no contact with my family and I was worried about my wife and children to I left my job and came to Pakistan to shift my family to a secure place,” said Sardar Ali who left his job in Qattar and came to rescue his family from his own army and the miscreants.
Sardar said several of his colleagues were also thinking to leave their jobs and come to Swat to shift their families. Another problem faced by the people who are determined not the leave their area come what may, was the shortage of food items as the security forces have enforced economic blockades and several roads were closed. “I wonder whether the operation is against the militants or the general population,” said a resident of Charbagh.
Residents of Manglor have also vacated their houses and are living with relatives in Mingora. One resident of the village said that most of the people are sacred to live in their houses as they and their family cannot sleep at night due to unnecessary firing by the security forces.—Agencies
The children have developed psychological disorders and most of the people are suffering from insomnia, he added.
Hundreds of public and private schools and colleges are closed and the education was the major casualty of the unending and unfruitful operation of the security forces. No cane say with certainty that when will end the operation.