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Five militants, soldier killed in Bajaur
Six more people, including five suspected militants and a soldier, were killed and several others were injured in clashes and bombing by the Pakistan Air Force fighter planes in Bajaur on Wednesday. Also, militants threatened to target educational institutions occupied by security forces.The military sources said the warplanes pounded positions of militants in Inayat Killay, Bhai Cheena and Mamond subdivision, a stronghold of the tribal militants led by TTP deputy chief Maulvi Faqir Muhammad. The sources said the troops had also cleared major parts of Inayat Killay and Bhai Cheena towns of militants, where the terrorists had established posts and were offering a tough resistance to security forces. Independent sources reported fierce fighting between the militants and security forces around Inayat Killay in which officials said five militants and a soldier were killed. Militant positions in the Mamond Tehsil were also targeted with artillery and mortar guns from Bajaur's regional headquarters, Khar. Suspected militants reportedly fired rockets at Khar Tehsil, where a mortar fell in a residential area, killing a woman and a child. Meanwhile, the authorities announced relaxation in curfew from 8 am to 4 pm today (Thursday) from Khar to Faja, Yousafabad and Shandaymor. The curfew has caused great hardships to tribesmen and also created shortage of food and other edible items in the militancy-hit Bajaur agency. On the other hand, TTP spokesman Maulvi Omar called The News and threatened to launch attacks on educational institutions which security forces had been using as base camps. He gave a three-day deadline to the troops to vacate the schools or the militants of Bajaur, like their fellow militants in Swat, would start attacks on schools being occupied by the armed forces. Omar also threatened to target government installations and security forces if the military operation was not stopped in the agency. Posted by: Fred 2009-02-12 |
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