Security forces have captured former Tehreek-e-Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud's right-hand commander, Rafiuddin, along with five other terrorists in Hangu, official sources told Daily Times on Saturday, adding the forces had also killed a Taliban commander.The sources said Taliban commander Zahir Shah was killed during a military operation in Tal area, adding that the six arrested Taliban members included Baitullah's close aide, commander Rafiuddin.
They said the arrested Taliban belonged to Sararogha area in South Waziristan and may have fled the area after Operation Rah-e-Nijat was launched in Waziristan. The forces also seized sophisticated weapons from their possession.
Killed: Separately, around 40 terrorists attacked an army checkpoint in Wana, killing one soldier, Reuters reported.
"Soldiers at the checkpoint on a bridge in Wana retaliated after coming under fire on Friday night," a security official said. "There were 30 to 40 Taliban who first fired rocket-propelled grenades at our post and then opened fire with AK-47 rifles which killed one of our soldiers. But we retaliated and killed six of them," he said. Also, one soldier was killed by terrorsits in Ladha, South Waziirstan, as security forces continue the ongoing military oepration in the region. "A soldier was martyred when terroists shot and killed him in Ladha," the Inter-Services Public Relations said.
The forces conducted search operations in Shikaro near Janata and Haider Killi near Tank, and cleared the area around Barwand, recovering caches of weapons and ammunition. The security forces also cleared Dashkai Algad, Barhka near Marakai, Tauda China Khula East. Security forces apprehended six terrorists during search and clearance operations in Swat at Behar near Shalpin, Nawe Kale and Fatehpur. Four suspects surrendered to security forces at Main Killi and Naranjpura. The forces also conducted search operations at Takhtaband, Udigram, Dadrah and apprehended three more terrorists.
Arrested: Also, security forces arrested 35 suspected Taliban, including three important commanders, during search operations in Bara Tehsil of Khyber Agency, APP reported.