MINGORA: Around 33 militants, two soldiers and five civilians were killed as army helicopters continued targeting Taliban positions in various areas of Swat for the third consecutive day on Wednesday. Separately, eight military personnel were injured as unidentified miscreants targeted their convoy with a remote-controlled bomb in Batkhela.Military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad told AFP that 17 militants were killed when gunship helicopters attacked their vehicle, while the remaining 16 were killed in separate clashes. Six loyalists of rebel cleric Maulana Fazlullah were eliminated as they tried to free four colleagues that had been arrested by security forces near Saidu Sharif Airport, Arshad said, adding that two soldiers died in the clash. The military spokesman said that another four militants were killed in Hazara village. “We will make sure that the militants are completely wiped off before we end the operation,” he vowed. Troops also arrested four militants carrying radio sets and grenades, Arshad said, reported AFP.
Without confirming or rejecting the casualties, FazlullahÂ’s spokesman Sirajuddin told Daily Times that he was in a war-like situation and could say nothing about the casualties at the moment.
Five civilians killed: Area residents said five civilians, including two minors, were also killed in bombing by army helicopters in Shangla and Kabal tehsils. However, the military spokesman confirmed the deaths of only two civilians.
Shops remain closed: Meanwhile, a curfew was in place till 12pm as army troops moved into Swat. Almost all government and private offices, educational institutions, shops and business centres remained closed in Mingora and its adjacent areas.
Meanwhile, local sources said security forces and Taliban exchanged fire in the Baily Baba area located around six kilometres from Alpuri, the Shangla town taken over by militants on Tuesday. At Liloni, the militants locked the police lines and vacated the area after talks with local elders, residents said, adding that the elders told the militants they did not want any interference by army or Taliban. Meanwhile, according to Online, two music centres were destroyed partially when a bomb planted near Gam Ghol in the Kohat area went off. No casualties were reported.