Two ‘terrorists’ killed in Swat shootout

Four security personnel as well as by-stander injured in clash

SWAT:

Two suspected terrorists on Saturday were killed in a clash with security forces at Mingora Bypass Road in the city of Swat, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Four security officials including a captain were injured in the shootout. A pedestrian was also among the injured.

According to Mingora police station chief Tariq Khan and Banr police post in-charge Anwar Khan, security forces launched an operation on a location on Mingora Bypass Road at around 4:30am on learning about the presence of terrorists there.

There was an exchange of fire between terrorists and army as well as Frontier Corps personnel. Two terrorists, believed to be residents of Shangla district, were killed in the shootout.

Captain Zulfiqar, Lance Naik Naseer Iqbal, Naik Gul Sadiq and soldier Sajid were injured during the raid.

The injured were shifted to DHQ Saidu Sharif Hospital.

During the clash between the security forces and the terrorists, a passer-by was also seriously injured.

Last month, three terrorists were killed by security forces in two different operations in K-P's Swat and Lakki Marwat districts.

In an operation on the night of September 22-23, security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation over the suspected presence of a high-profile terrorist in Charbagh area of the Swat district.

“During encounter, the terrorist got killed. Weapon and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorist. The killed terrorist remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces,” said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.

In another statement, the ISPR said on the night of September 22-23, army troops observed and engaged terrorists' movement in general area Sheikh Badin Mountains of Lakki Marwat.

“During [the] exchange of fire, two terrorists got killed. Weapons and ammunition was also recovered from the killed terrorists,” it added.

The slain men remained actively involved in target killings and terrorist activities against security forces, according to the ISPR.

In August this year, thousands of residents of Khwaza Khela and Kabal took to the streets to record their protest against the alleged return of militants to the mountains in Swat district.

They vowed that militancy would not be tolerated under any circumstances in the region.

The entire Malakand Division has been in the grip of panic after militants kidnapped four policemen in Matta, Swat and shifted them to their camp in the hills. All the four were later released after locals formed a Jirga to negotiate their release.

In the same month, the K-P police said they were aware of the presence of some individuals, who were previously living in Afghanistan, in the far-flung areas of Swat district.

They, however, reassured the public that law-enforcement personnel were appropriately placed to ensure peace in the area.

In a press release, issued by the Central Police Office in Peshawar on the Swat situation, the police said the law-enforcement agencies would take all possible measures to ensure peace in the district as per the aspirations of the residents.