October 28, 2007	Sunday	Shawwal 15, 1428

UPPER DIR, Oct 27: The government on Saturday deployed Dir Scout soldiers at different places in Upper Dir to prevent Maulana Fazlullah and his supporters from entering the district.

Following the suicide attack on a truck carrying Frontier Constabulary soldiers in Mingora, Swat, and the subsequent operation launched against militants to reassert its writ, the government deployed scout personnel to check the movement of fugitives and block all mountainous paths leading to the district.

The deployment was aimed at thwarting militants’ attempt to enter the district from Toormang, Nehag Dara and Karo Dara areas. However, there is no information of any deployment in the Kohistan area of Upper Dir which shares border with Swat.

Forces set up a checkpost on the Wari-Nehag Dara road and erected barricade in Darora to check the movement of militants and keep an eye on Usherai Dara, the TNSM-dominated area. Strict body search of commuters is being conducted on Dir-Timergara, Usherai-Darora and Nehag-Wari roads.

Meanwhile, Upper Dir police held a meeting with local Maliks and political leaders in Wari to muster their support in the ongoing operation in Swat.

It was attended by Wari sub-division DSP Dawa Khan, former provincial minister Malik Jehanzeb Khan, Malik Faiz Mohammad, Tehsil Nazim Wari Fakhar Hayat Khan, ANP district president Syed Anwar Khan, PML district president Mian Sultan Yousaf Bacha and others.

The administration urged the elders to cooperate with the government and deny shelters to the fleeing Taliban and extremists. The administration feared that militants might enter Dir Upper and disrupt peace.

Police officials informed the meeting that the government was committed to maintaining peace at any cost.

The district nazim, DCO and DPO had already been called to Peshawar in the wake of operation in Swat and they were asked to ensure strict vigil to check the entry of the Taliban into the district.