Army gunships back up lashkars

ISLAMABAD - While securing more areas, the security forces and Lashkars of local people in various parts of Malakand division killed 27 more terrorists and apprehended 22 others.
According to an ISPR update of the last 24 hours on Operation Rah-e-Raast, issued on Tuesday, one soldier embraced Shahadat and 9 others sustained injuries. Around 14 terrorists were killed, 22 others arrested and 6 soldiers injured during search and cordon operation in area around Peochar valley.
The security forces during the operation around Peochar valley also recovered a tunnel, cache of arms, ammunition and explosive materials, ISPR said.
The security forces successfully secured village Darmai in Sakhra valley and one soldier embraced shahadat in a terrorists attack on Kalpanai check-post, ISPR also added.
Moreover, three soldiers were injured during an exchange of fire between the security forces and the terrorists at Uchrai Sar. The Lashkars of local people, in Upper Dir secured four villages after killing 13 terrorists, ISPR added.
According to ISPR, the Lashkar, till filing of the report was surrounding villages Shatkas and Ghazigae to flush out the terrorists from the area.
Our Staff Reporter from Upper Dir adds: The local residents told TheNation that both the sides were using heavy weapons and the Lashker was heading towards militants hideouts in Doog Dara. The Army helicopters also backed the Lashkar and targeted the militants hideouts, the added.
They further disclosed that a Taliban leader, identified as Abdul Rehman, had been arrested and his house had been burnt.
Meanwhile, complaining shortage of weapons, the Lashkar members have asked the government to supply arms so that they could successfully purge the area of the militants. The local people, getting furious over the last Fridays suicide bomb explosion, had launched the offensive against them.
Moreover, fearing more non-stop clashes between the Lashkar and the militants, around 100 families of Badar Kanai and Katair villages have fled from the region and taken shelter with their relatives in Dir and Shringal areas.
Meanwhile, three girls schools were blown up in Maidan area of Lower Dir district on Tuesday.
As per details, the three schools, blown up separately, were Government Girls Middle School Sherkhani, Government Girls High School Chinar Kot and Government Girls High School Sangolai.
Some unknown militants had planted explosive materials in different parts of the three schools, which exploded and razed the buildings to the ground.
With the addition of these three schools, total 11 schools have been blown up so far in the area.
Meanwhile, the security forces continued targeting militants suspected hideouts in Maidan area.
AFP/Reuters add: Military sent helicopter gunships to Upper Dir Tuesday to support armed villagers who have risen up against Taliban to avenge a deadly mosque blast, an official said.
Lashkars in Upper Dir secured four villages and killed 13 terrorists, he said.
Lashkar men are positioned on surrounding mountains and keeping a vigil on the movement of Taliban militants, said a military official who did not want to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
He said army helicopter gunships and artillery pounded suspected militant hideouts in Upper Dir, adding: The shelling was in support of the lashkar.
Senior police officer Rahim Gul told Reuters by telephone two army helicopters had attacked militants surrounded by militia fighters in a village.
There must be militant casualties but we dont know at the moment, Gul said, adding more people were joining the militia and it was making advances after heavy clashes.
Paramilitary soldiers had set up mortars on high ground above the village, Gul said later.
Previously, the army had not helped the militiamen because they were locked in close-quarter fighting with the Taliban and the military was worried it might hit them by mistake.