Fazlullah’s base captured in Swat
Bureau Report

PESHAWAR—The security forces Wednesday captured the stronghold of militant leader in Swat valley, officials said. “Security forces entered the town of Imam Dheri which was the main base of Maulana Fazlullah,” provincial government spokesman Amjad Iqbal was quoted as saying. The whereabouts of Fazlullah remain unknown. “He has gone underground,” the official said. The cleric had a huge complex under his control in Imam Dheri including a mosque and a madrassa, or Islamic seminary.
Prior to the recent clashes, some 200 armed followers used to guard the complex spread over an area of around two square kilometres (more than a mile). The base, some eight kilometres from the valley’s main town of Mingora, is located in the troubled Kabal district, where most towns have fallen to the government in the past two days. Security sources in the area said the close aides of Maulana Fazlullah have also fled, including his spokesman, Maulana Sirajuddin. They quoted residents as saying they were seen heading for the mountains. Security Forces , during the continued against the militants have destroyed militant’s strong locations in Swat valley. According to a press release issued by Inter Services Public Relations, the security forces continued their operation against militant’s suspected locations in different areas of Swat valley and destroyed their strong hold.
It has been reported that militants have fled the area. In their drive against militants, locals of Kuza Bandai have destroyed 30 trenches of militants and are planning to sweep the area by tomorrow. It is further reported that six dead bodies of militants have been recovered from point 18, 19 in Swat, out of which one body has been identified as an Uzbek national.
The dead bodies have been handed over to district administration for further disposal. Security Forces have gained full control of Kuza Bandai, Bara Banda and Imam Deri, and Political Administration in the area is also being restored. Masses from the affected area are also continuously contacting civil administration to re-establish police check posts and other government offices in their respective areas.
In Shangla today, after successful operation by Security Forces Alpurai Town (District Headquarter of Shangla) has been secured from militants, who were reported fleeing away from the area in a disorganized manner. District administration will start functioning from tomorrow. 220-230 militants have been killed since the operation started in Swat/Shangla on 11/13 November 07, 2007.
The security forces have taken fifty dead bodies of militants including foreigners into its custody during the on-going military operation in Swat. The spokesman of Swat media Center Amjad Iqbal told BBC that the dead bodies of some alleged militants have been handed over their heirs.