PESHAWAR – At least 11 alleged militants, including a suspected suicide bomber, were killed in separate clashes at Batkhela area of Malakand and in different parts of District Swat on Saturday. A spokesman of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the security forces on a tip-off raided a house in Batkhela town to capture a would-be suicide bomber but he blew himself up to avoid arrest.
An accomplice of the bomber was also killed in the action while five people, including security forces personnel, sustained serious injuries, he added. Through some officials and local people, the alleged suicide bomber was identified as Shams-ul-Tabraiz, a resident of Kanju Dheri Swat. In a subsequent search operation, during which curfew was imposed in the vicinity, five extremists were also netted. They include Shams’ father Fazal Hadi and four brothers.
The family had shifted to Batkhela to avoid military operation in Swat. And in Swat, the ISPR said, four militants were killed during a clash at Peya Madayan. They are Omar Ali, Shafi Ullah and Zakir Ullah from Fateh Pur and Bakht Zada from Peya. Three militants Ismail and Naeem of village Sherpalam and Halim Jan, a resident of Shagortai area of Matta, were killed during in shootouts while another two militants died at Balosar Matta. A huge quantity of arms and explosive material were also recovered their possession.
The spokesman said to counter the terrorists’ attempts to enter Swat from Mohmand Agency, the security forces had started military action, adding that security had been tightened in the area and the people were also extending cooperation to the law enforcing agencies. It is important to note that the number of militants killed in mysterious clashes with the security forces during the last two days in Swat and Malakand has reached 22.
