15 militants killed in fresh Swat fighting

MINGORA- In the latest fighting between security forces and Taliban, a jawan of Pakistan Army was killed and three others sustained injuries  here at Kalakot Village on Sunday, officials confirmed. Some 15 militants were also killed in the latest clashes.

They said that military operation against militants continued in different parts of the district, including Matta and Kabal Tehsil where security forces backed by artillery and gunship helicopters targeted the suspected hideouts and positions of Taliban.

The officials said that security forces repulsed the attack of militants but a Jawan of Pakistan Army was killed and three other injured in the fighting.

But, the Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan claimed that five personnel of the security forces were killed in the clashes with Taliban fighters.

Intense fighting between security forces and Taliban militants was also reported in Guli Bagh area near Charbagh Town but details about human and loss couldn't be ascertained so far.

Meanwhile, masked Taliban militants set four girls schools on fire at Matta and Kabal areas.

The authorities have also made some relaxation in curfew hours from 7:00 am till 8:00 pm in Mingora and Khawazakhela regions.

Meanwhile, three persons including a woman and her son have been killed in different incidents of violence in Swat, reports said Sunday.

According to details of the incident, the mother and her son fell victim to a mortar shell fired by the security forces, which missed the target and landed on a house, killing the two on spot, besides completely damaging their house.

On the other hand, a peasant was killed after a rocket fired by the security forces hit him while he was working in his field. The dwellers of the area expressed severe resentment over the incident. They chanted slogans against the government.

Meanwhile, Tehrik Taliban Swat claimed killing about 40 security personnel in deadly clashes with security forces in Rorial and Sejband areas; however, security officials have contradicted the claim.

Taliban Spokesman Haji Muslim Khan also claimed killing five of security personnel in Kalakot area; but the official sources confirmed that only one security man was killed in the Kalkot area. Haji Muslim Khan conceded injuries to two Taliban commanders in the clashes.

On the other hand, due to unscheduled curfew there has arisen acute shortage of food and edibles. The residents of the area were forced to close their shops in Tehsil Matta. The dwellers of the area advised the government to carry out targeted military actions instead of clamping hours long curfew. Majority of the people were unhappy with civilian casualties in the ongoing military action.

The dwellers of the area also lashed out at the security forces for their flawed military operation, in which the victims were mostly the innocent people.

AFP adds: At least 15 militants were killed Sunday in clashes in the troubled northwestern Swat Valley, the Army said in a statement.

The fighting, which took place in Matta district, came after pro-Taliban militants in the area claimed responsibility for a bomb blast the day before that killed six policemen and three paramilitary soldiers.

"At least 15 militants were killed and many injured, in an exchange of fire with security forces," the Army said in a brief statement.