Terrorists elude capture in Swat mountains

Some TTP militants, believed to be holed up in a cave, also slip away

SWAT:

All the TTP terrorists who clashed with local residents and police in the mountains of Banjot area of Swat on Tuesday managed to escape despite the police claims that they had been holed up in a cave.

“There were reports that three or four of the terrorists had taken shelter in a small mountain cave and police surrounded it but when they finally reached it the cave was found to be empty,” said a police official while talking to The Express Tribune.

“One policeman was injured during the operation but the terrorists were able to dodge police and locals successfully,” he said, adding that the terrorists were first spotted by local residents who clashed with them and later police also joined them.

Background

A person died and two policemen sustained serious wounds during an exchange of fire between a group of armed men and police in the Banjot area of scenic Swat valley on Tuesday.

According to reports, a group of 15 to 20 armed people were spotted patrolling near Doshai – a village at Banjot – causing alarm among the locals who came out with their own guns to protect their area.

They also informed the police which soon reached the village.

Later firing broke out between the armed group and the police. During this exchange of fire, a young man, Ali, died while two policemen received serious wounds.

“A heavy contingent of elite police officials has reached the area and cordoned it off,” said Swat District Police Officer (DPO) Shafi Ullah Gandapur.

“The exchange of fire continues intermittently. Two policemen including Waqar Khan of Elite Force Platoon 60 have got seriously injured. They have been shifted to Saidu Sharif Hospital,” he said.

According to sources, there are 15 to 20 miscreants who have now taken refuge in a mountainous cave. However, Malakand’s Regional Police Officer (RPO) Nasir Mahmood Satti told media that there are four to five people holed up in the cave.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2023.