Troops root out militants in Swat

SWAT—The security forces have successfully captured various heights in areas of Bariam Bar and Pir Kalai and are dominating Shakardara– Bariam road with fire and observation during the ongoing operation in Swat. The Information Centre Mingora press release said Sunday that security forces are holding these positions with strength and over looking the area up till Matta.
Last night, militants locations around Puchaar and Tutano Bandai was extensively engaged with artillery fire. The gunship helicopters during the day continuously remained in the air to provide support to the advancing troops towards Bariam Bar and Pir Kkalai. The people of Swat have extended full support in ongoing operation and displayed absolute confidence and trust in their armed forces in evicting these militants and extremists form the area.
We greatly appreciated the people of Swat for their active support, resilience and determination in ongoing operation against these militants, the statement said. Peace loving people of Swat will be able to breathe freely with joint support soon and lead their life as per their desires, it added. About 220 militants were killed and 50 others arrested during last 10 to 12 days operations by Security Forces in Swat and surrounding areas, Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Waheed Arshad told PTV Sunday.
Situation in Swat is under control and improving gradually as militants have been driven out of the area, the DG ISPR said. He said “about 220 militants have been killed and 50 arrested during the operations of last 10 to 12 days.” There are still some areas where operations have to be launched against the miscreants, Waheed Arshad added.
At least six persons including four women were died and more than fifteen injured during the clashes between security forces and militants while the security forces have claimed to detain fifty militants including foreign militants.
The DG,ISPR Major General Waheed Arshad while talking to media confirmed the deaths and arrests made by the security forces and informed that militants have been wiped out in several areas of Swat. After attacked by the militants on Banda Check-post located in suburb area of Miranshah with automatic weapons, the security forces retaliated and in exchange of fire, several shells landed on the houses.
Major General Waheed Arshad further told that a shell landed in the house of Sladar Khan as a result his son (6) and other three women were died on the spot while Sakiullah died in side his house after landing shell in his house. A man died and more than fifteen injured as the shell landed in Miranshah.
The spokesperson of ISPR added that all the injured have been shifted to head quarer hospital of North Waziristan for medical treatment, out of which five injured, were shifted to Peshawar due to their critical condition. One injured woman succumbed to her injuries on the way to Peshawar. A large number of people have started to leave the area from the suburb areas of Miranshah and Mir Ali. Meanwhile, a private TV channel told that armed tribes have attacked Tungai, a area of Karam Agency and the security forces after retaliation thwarted it.—Agencies
Eyewitnesses said that armed tribes attacked on the Tungai with rockets and other automatic weapons. The political authorities have warned that security forces would retaliate if the tribes violated after cease-fire. On the other hand, the curfew has not been relaxed in Parachinar after passing of sixteen days.