23 November 2004	Tuesday	10 Shawwal 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 22: Twenty militants were killed in clashes with security forces in two areas in South Waziristan. In Lalejai area, a seminary owned by Maulvi Bashir Ahmad had been serving as a hub of terrorist activities from where miscreants had been launching frequent attacks against security forces and civilians, an ISPR statement issued on Monday said.

The stronghold of miscreants was busted after fierce fighting in which at least eight terrorists were killed, the handout said. Similarly, 12 terrorists were killed in a "hand-to-hand" fight with the security forces in Karam Manzai Chundkhel area where they had made the local population hostage, it said.

The terrorists managed to take away six bodies along with them while the remaining six were recovered by the security forces. Following a swift operation, the terrorists were flushed out of Khon Khela and Draz Langer Khel area which they were using as a second layer of their defence, the statement said.

The security forces have cleared many parts of South Waziristan which were under the control of miscreants a few days back, said the statement. It said the search operation, started on Nov 8 in the region, was still under way and its initial objectives had been achieved.

Meanwhile, officials said the security forces demolished a shop of a tribesman, Janat Khan Mehsud, in the Sam bazaar on Monday. They said that the action was taken against the tribesman after an army officer received fatal injuries inside his residence in a landmine blast.

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