You have commented 338 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
India-Pakistan
Defence committees to be formed in Swat
2007-12-08
The government will set up “defence committees” in every Swat village to eliminate militancy and bring lasting peace to the area, a government spokesman said on Friday. The idea to establish these committees came a day after security forces took over the headquarters of firebrand Maulana Fazlullah in Imam Dheri.

‘Locals to run committees’: “Locals will run these committees, which are being formed to block the revival of militancy,” said the spokesman at a media briefing. He said the security forces would take instant actions against militants on the information provided by these committees. He said the security forces had guarded the areas from Kanju and Mingora to Matta and Khwazakhela during curfew hours to stop the militants from carrying out subversive activities.

The spokesman said the government would soon announce a relief package to provide food, blankets and other basic amenities to the affected people of Swat. He said the area elders would distribute these relief goods among the people.

No daytime curfew: The curfew would not be clamped in Swat during daytime from today (Saturday), the spokesman said. He said the provincial government would give a reward of Rs 100,000 to Rs 200,000 to a person who gave information about a local or foreign militant, adding that the reward would be given after the arrest of a militant. The name of the informer will not be disclosed, he added.

More than 200 militants had been killed and some arrested in the area since November 24 when the military took the lead after police and paramilitary forces could not guard the district against the onslaught of militants.The spokesman said the security forces continued artillery fire on Thursday night at suspected hideouts of militants in Swat, but gave no details.

Demolishing: Locals on Friday started demolishing houses of militants after troops took over Matta and Khwazakhela, as the district administration also became functional, Online reported. Some locals told the media that police, with the help of Frontier Corps, had started establishing checkposts in the area.
Posted by:Fred

00:00