Search operation:Security forces, militants clash in Mohmand Agency

Three suspects, security official killed in gunfight; land dispute claims two lives.

GHALLANI:

Three suspected militants and a security official were killed on Friday in an exchange of fire between security forces and militants during a search operation in Haleemzai tehsil of Mohmand Agency.

An official of the security forces told The Express Tribune that the operation was launched in Prang Dara area of Haleemzai tehsil after they received intelligence about the presence of militants in the area.



During the search, the militants began firing at the security forces and killed an official identified as Qayum. Another official was injured and was shifted to Combined Military Hospital in Peshawar, he added.

According to the official, three suspected militants were shot dead in retaliatory fire. The search was under way till this report was filed.

Prang Dara is located near Kabul River on the Pak-Afghan border where, according to the security forces, suspected militants have maintained a presence in the past.

Over land

Meanwhile, a land dispute claimed two lives and injured three people in Tamanzai area of Pandyali tehsil.

According to Muhammad Naeem Khan, an official of the Lower Mohmand political administration, brothers Gul Nazeer Khan and Nauroz Khan had a land dispute and on Friday morning both sides opened fire at each other.

Sajid Khan from Gul’s group and Nauroz Khan died in the shooting, while three people were injured. The injured were shifted to a hospital in Peshawar.

Naeem Khan said the political administration had intervened and  managed to settle the issue with the help of a jirga.

Yet another land dispute claimed another life in Shagi Bala, Safi tehsil. Bashir Khan died when Sher Khan and Anbar Khan opened fire at each other’s groups. The political administration has set up a jirga to resolve the dispute.

Raising a voice

On the other hand, women and children from Durba Khel village, Ghallanai protested against the arrest of 16 men from the village. Protesters blocked the main Bajaur-Mohmand Road and demanded the release of the detained people.

On Wednesday, security forces along with the political administration arrested 16 suspects from Durba Khel under the collective responsibility clause of the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR). A levies official, Zabit Khan, had been killed in Ghazi Kor Kandao by unidentified men on Tuesday night.

The women and children of the detained individuals’ families demanded the release of their loved ones, saying they were not involved in any criminal or militant activities.

The protesters maintained that Zabit Khan was killed in another village and therefore people from that village should be held under collective responsibility.

Officials of the political administration formed a jirga to negotiate with the protesting women. The jirga approached the demonstrators and requested them to disperse so that the main road could be opened. The women complied with the request.

The jirga also met the political administration and asked for the release of the arrested men. The administration assured them the detainees would be freed after being interrogated.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2014.