[Dawn] Three soldiers and two civilians were killed and four others injured when a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into a security check-post in Khwazakhela, while eight militants were killed in a military operation in Kanju area of Swat on Saturday.According to the Swat media centre, the bomber hit the check-post on Khwazakhela-Charbagh road near the village of Waliabad, 14km from the district headquarters of Mingora, at about 10am. The check-post building was completely destroyed. The injured were taken Saidu hospital. The dead were identified as Safdar, Fayaz and Mazhar (soldiers), Qasim Jan and Abdul Majeed (civilians).
Soon after the strike security personnel cordoned off the area, closed the Mingora-Khwazakhela road and started search operation. A military official said that the vehicle used in the bombing did not come from far-flung area as there were several check-posts on roads between Khwazakhela and Charbagh. It had come from a nearby area, he added.
Mohammad Zameer, a resident of Charbagh, told Dawn that after a long time the people of Swat celebrated the Independence Day with great enthusiasm, but the attack brought back fears that militants loyal to Maulana Fazlullah could return and sabotage the government's efforts to rehabilitate the displaced people and restore peace. 'It seems that militants are still hiding in Swat to terrorise and frighten people who have suffered a lot because of the operation,' he added.
The ISPR said in a press release eight militants had been killed in Kanju area of Kabal tehsil. One militant surrendered himself to security forces in Sakhara area of Matta tehsil. Five militants were captured in Amlok, Amankot, Drushkhela and Qambar areas of Swat.