July 22, 2008	Tuesday	Rajab 18, 1429

MINGORA, July 21: Two militants were killed and several others injured as security forces and the local Taliban traded fire near Sarbanda and Shawar valley of Matta tehsil on Monday.

According to military sources, the local Taliban attacked a bunker of security forces with mortars and heavy guns at 4pm on Monday. Security forces pounded militants’ hideouts with heavy artillery, they said. Two militants were confirmed dead and several others feared dead or wounded in retaliatory fire.

Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan told Dawn that only two children were injured as artillery shell hit a house in the area and not a single Talib was killed.

He said the Taliban reserved the right to retaliate in self-defence wherever and whenever attacked by security forces.

Muslim Khan disclosed that security forces opened fire on our men late on Sunday night when they (Taliban) were crossing a checkpost near Wanay.

Six security personnel were killed as the Taliban retaliated. However, the Army Media Centre in Swat dismissed the claim as totally absurd.