Fifteen militants, including a leading commander, and 10 civilians were killed and 25 others injured in heavy bombardment carried out by jet fighters on the Taliban strongholds in Peuchar area of the troubled Swat Valley on Tuesday.
The aircraft blitzed Peuchar, where Maulana Fazlullah-led militants have established their stronghold after they were flushed out from their former headquarters Mamdheri last year, four times on Tuesday and targeted the suspected hideouts of the Taliban.
A Mingora-based ISPR spokesman told The News by phone that 15 militants, including a leading commander, were killed and scores of others injured in the air strikes. He said the target was the command and control system of the militants, which, he claimed, was also destroyed. The first attack was carried out at 9am, which was followed by more deadly attacks. Local sources said that Gat Shawar, Gat bazaar, Peuchar and other nearby towns were bombarded that resulted in the killing of 10 persons, including two children, while another 25 were injured. The injured were rushed to Saidu Sharif hospital. Some of the injured were identified as Hakim Bacha, Bashir, Noordada, Abdul Karim, Sharafat Ali and Sarfaraz.
The assault also destroyed some houses and a mosque in the area. The Taliban spokesman said the attacks killed eight civilians and some cattle and Taliban were safe. The military has stepped up operation against the militants in the valley and now using jets, besides gunship choppers to eliminate militants and their hideouts, but they have constantly been carrying out their activities in various parts of the valley.
On Tuesday, the militants killed a traffic cop, Muhammad Siraj, at Green Square of Mingora and made good their escape. After the incident, the panicked traffic cops from all squares abandoned duty, which created worst traffic jam in the city. Brother of the slain cop, Muhammad Sher, a schoolteacher, was killed a few days back. The Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack. Unknown persons also killed a schoolteacher, Bakht Jehan in Koza Bandai area of Kabal tehsil.
In Matta, the militants blew up more shops of the Awami National Party central leader and former federal minister, Afzal Khan Lala. The leader has been under attack of the militants who had attacked his home twice and destroyed his market in Matta. The Taliban have asked the tenants of shops owned by him to leave the shops or else they would not be responsible for any loss.
According to ISPR, the relaxation period in curfew has been extended in Ramazan on the orders of Major General Nasir Janjua to facilitate the people. Now it would remain in force from 11pm to 5am.
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MINGORA: The federal government will soon announce a relief package for the residents of Swat district, the Peshawar corps commander said on Tuesday. Talking to journalists after visiting forward positions of troops at Nadia Top, Peshawar Corps Commander Lt Gen Masood Aslam said there would soon be a jirga that will give good news about enforcement of Shariah.