MINGORA, Dec 11: Security forces, backed by helicopter gunships and artillery, attacked on Tuesday some areas in Swat still believed to be infested with militants. The forces claimed to have arrested a diehard member of a banned organisation and seized a huge quantity of arms and ammunition from his home on Monday.
According to the ISPR, arms and ammunition, including improvised explosive devices, detonators, an FM radio transmitter and forged passports, had been seized.
The arrested man reportedly belongs to Jaish-i-Muhammad and is said to have been involved in recruiting, training and harbouring suicide bombers.
Meanwhile, the tourist resorts of Kalam, Madyan and Bahrain and some other areas vacated by militants are yet to be taken over by the forces. Since the administration and police are still not functioning in these areas, people themselves have to maintain law and order.
A police official said police would be deputed in police stations of Madyan and Kalam after the forces secured the areas.
It is learnt that the troops raided various suspected positions of militants in Khwazakhela, about 27km from Mingora on the Kalam Road.
Major Amjid Iqbal, a spokesman of the government media centre in Mingora, claimed that five militants having close links with Maulana Fazlullah had been arrested on Monday night – three from Kabal and two from Mingora.
The administration announced that curfew in the district would be relaxed from 7am to 6pm on Wednesday.
