MINGORA, Dec 2: Security forces occupied two important mountain tops which had been recently vacated by militants in their stronghold of Matta tehsil. Also on Sunday, 26 militants were detained at checkpoints.

People in Pir Kalay said the militants had abandoned the posts a few days ago and retreated to Puchaar area near the tehsil’s border with Dir. They are reported to have training camps in the area.

A Frontier Corps spokesman, meanwhile, said 22 militants had been arrested at the FC checkpoint at Ayub Bridge in Kanju, two each at Fizzagut and another two at Landaki.

Included among those arrested are Afghan national Waheedullah, who allegedly headed the propaganda wing of the militants; Maulana Ghaniur Rehman, a cleric of Imam Dehri; and Mohammad Iqbal, believed to be a financer of the militants.

Inter-Services Public Relations said the forces had captured various heights in Bariam Bar and Pir Kalai and they now dominated the Shakardara-Bariam road with fire and observation. It said the forces were overlooking the area till Matta.

Local people said the troops were advancing at a snail’s pace in areas, adding that positions vacated by the militants on mountains had been taken over by the troops.

Helicopter gunships continued flying over different areas, although artillery and mortar guns remained silent.

Seven soldiers, among them a major, kidnapped by militants about two weeks ago, are reportedly being kept at their hideout in Puchaar.

Earlier, there were reports that cleric Maulana Fazlullah had sought safe passage in return for their release. However, the maulana has not mentioned the issue in his addresses on his FM radio during the past two days and he was off air on Sunday.

The administration is yet to resume functioning in the areas vacated by the militants, including Khwazakhela, Behrain, Madyan and Kalam.

Curfew was relaxed from 5am till 5pm and there will be further relaxation from 7am till 5pm on Monday from Mingora up to Chakdara. In the rest of the valley, it will be relaxed from noon till 5pm.

Meanwhile, more displaced people from Shangla district have returned to their homes.