August 10, 2008	Sunday	Sha’aban 7, 1429

MINGORA, Aug 9: Three government servants were killed and two other people were injured when masked men opened fire on them in the Sherpalam area of Matta tehsil on Saturday.

According to sources, the victims were standing outside their homes when masked assailants riding in a car attacked them.

In clashes between security forces and militants, four children were injured and several houses were damaged in the Matta tehsil as more troops arrived in the troubled area.

Sources said that heavy reinforcements were heading towards the valley via Malakand region where curfew was imposed from 12am on Friday to 12pm on Saturday to allow the troops to move easily.

They said the district government had requested the federal government to send additional forces to Swat. They added that troops pounded the positions of militants in Matta tehsil.

Local people said a shell hit an under-construction house in Khariri locality in Matta, leaving four children injured.

A mosque and several houses also came under attack in the area.

Curfew was imposed in Kabal too due to the movement of troops. Security forces continued artillery shelling from their bases in Kanju and Kabal.

Officials said that militants blew up a bridge linking Matta with Chapperyal while security forces claimed to have defused a bomb of 80 kilogram planted beneath another bridge.

In Kishwara area, a basic health unit was destroyed with explosives.

The sources said military operation had forced local people to vacate the troubled areas and more than 200,000 people had been displaced so far.