Taliban commander shot dead in Swat

MINGORA: A local militant commander, Sadiq alias Abuzar, was killed in exchange of fire with security forces in restive Swat district on Tuesday.

According to Swat Media Centre the local militant commander, who was wanted by security forces in various cases, was killed in exchange fire with security forces in Charbagh area.

Sources said that Abuzar was expert in making bombs and was involved in killing of security personnel and citizens. His father Bashir Qasab was a close aide of Maulana Fazlullha. The body of the militant commander was brought to the Charbagh mosque.

The residents of the area thronged the mosque to see his dead body.

Meanwhile, two suspected militants Sher Bahadar and Mohammad Ali were arrested. ISPR said that two Kalashnikovs, a pistol and cartridges were recovered from their possession.

Security forces also issued the list of 81 wanted militants in Damghar area of Kabal tehsil. The militants were warned to surrender to security forces within a week otherwise their all moveable and immovable properties would be confiscated.

In another incident, security forces set ablaze the houses of nine wanted militants in Shah Dheri area of Swat. They were earlier warned to surrender to security forces but after not complying with the orders their houses were torched.

LANDI KOTAL: An important commander of Lashkar-i-Islam, a militant organisation, was killed during exchange of fire with security forces while seven suspects were arrested in Khyber tribal region on Tuesday.

Sources said that Sherin, a key commander of Lashkar-i-Islam, was killed and his associate injured in Yusuf Talab area of Bara tehsil during operation by security forces.

Security forces also arrested seven suspected persons including a member of the Shura of the proscribed militant group during search operation in Yusuf Talab area.

Meanwhile, suspected militants blew up a digital telephone exchange in Baz Garha area of Bara. About 70 per cent telephone lines were already disconnected due to fault in the exchange.

Militants planted explosive device around the double-storey building, which went off with a big bang destroyed the structure completely. All the equipment in the exchange were also destroyed.

In another incident security forces arrested three suspected persons and seized eight Kalashnikovs, twenty pistols and hundreds of rounds of cartridges. Their car was also impounded by the security personnel.