February 18, 2008	Monday	Safar 10, 1429

SWAT, Feb 17: Security forces arrested seven hardcore militants, two of them commanders, during a search operation here on Sunday.

According to officials, the militants were hiding in a house when the security forces launched the operation in Kabal tehsil and arrested them after a brief exchange of fire. The two commanders were identified as Fazle Rehman and Akbar Hussain.

Residents said that the security forces also dynamited the house of Fazle Rehman and the shops and a clinical laboratory of Akbar Hussain in the area.

MILITANT KILLED: A militant was killed when security forces engaged some militants who were planting explosives at a polling station set up in a primary school in the vicinity of the Kanju police station.

Officials and residents said the militants, who escaped from the area during the encounter, had put on jackets used in suicide bombings. The security forces recovered one hand grenade and a Kalashnikov from the militant.

ATTACK ON POLICE: In the Matta area, DSP Haroon Babar escaped unhurt when his car was attacked with a series of remote controlled devices near Bara Bandai, Kabal, where he had gone to inspect polling stations. No casualty was reported.

Sources said that the DSP’s car was attacked with three remote controlled devices planted along the road. Residents said the area reverberated with heavy shelling and gun fire.

POLLING SECURITY: The polling staffers, police and FC personnel were dispatched to the polling stations in the district under the army’s security, sources said.

Saturday’s suicide bombing at an army media centre had created scare among the polling staffers, mainly comprising teachers. They were reluctant to go to the far-off areas for security reasons.