Several trenches were destroyed as several gunship helicopters pounded Taliban positions in the Bamakhela area of Matta tehsil in Swat on Monday evening, while the death toll from SundayÂ’s suicide attack rose to 14.Mingora Media Centre In-charge Colonel Nadeem told Daily Times that the helicopters had targeted Taliban positions at Bamakhela this (Monday) evening. He, however, did not disclose the number of militant casualties.
The troops had earlier targeted militant positions using artillery on Sunday night. However, no casualties were reported.
Officials said the troops controlled the area from Charbagh to Kalam after the two-day operation. He said people had welcomed the soldiers as they reached Kalam with heavy weaponry and handed over control of a police station and police post to local administration.
According to Online, when the Pakistan Army reached Kalam, local dignitaries, including Union Council nazim Kalam Habibullah, Haji Seikhi Malik, Hameed Kalami, Haji Shah Jehan Kalami and local media person Rehmat Din Siddiqi, accorded them a warm welcome and presented flower garlands to them.
Two civilians killed: Separately, two people were shot dead by the security forces for violating the curfew in Swat on Monday. One of the dead has been identified as Akbar Zada, while the identity of the other is not known. Also on Monday, the local administration relaxed the curfew from 7am till 6pm in Mingora. However, a curfew has been imposed till 6pm in the areas of Thal Kabal and Fiza Ghat to Kalam, reported Online.