DARRA ADAMKHEL/ KOHAT, Jan 31: Security forces on Thursday recovered four ammunition trucks that had been seized by militants on the Indus Highway last week.
Local residents said the trucks were found in the Girls Degree College in Mazidkhel, which served as the headquarters of militants, and Bostikhel area during a search operation.
Also on Thursday, a bomb went off near the house of Tariq Afridi, a militant commander in the arms-manufacturing town of Darra Adamkhel.
Local people said the militants could still be seen roaming around the area on motorbikes. “The Taliban are still here,” one worried man said.
The local administration has allowed shops and markets to re-open. However, shops dealing in arms will remain closed.
Families which had left the town in the wake of the military operation were seen returning to their homes, leaving many residents bewildered as to why the Jamaat-i-Islami was collecting donations to set up relief camps for displaced people.
Meanwhile, the army seized 40 boxes of 130 MM and 30 boxes of 81 MM ammunition from the Kahiwal area of Tor Chappar. Three suicide jackets were also reportedly found. Kahiwal is the area where bodies of 13 soldiers were found on Wednesday. Troops also recovered two of the three vehicles which had been taken away by militants from the office of the assistant political agent of Kohat three weeks back.
Officials confirmed that the Kohat tunnel would reopen after repairs in a couple of days. Repair work on the Sheraki Bridge which had been damaged in an attack by militants is yet to begin.
The authorities, meanwhile, released 31 maliks who were arrested under the Frontier Crimes Regulations after militants had hijacked the trucks on January 23.
Abdul Sami Paracha contributed to this report from Kohat.
