August 21, 2008	Thursday	Sha'aban 18, 1429

KHAR, Aug 20: Security forces bombed suspected positions of militants in the Bajaur tribal region on Wednesday, reportedly killing 17 people.

Some people in Khar, the administrative headquarters of the agency, said that militants were fleeing the area after having moved their families to other places.

Military helicopters and ground forces attacked militants’ hideouts and residences of relatives of militant commanders in different areas.

Reports reaching here said that five people, including women and children, were killed and three others wounded when helicopters attacked a number of places in Sewai, considered to be a stronghold of militants.

Two non-combatants were killed in Badan and 10 suspected militants in other areas.

Local people said that the militants had suffered heavy casualties in the border area of Manzai which was bombed on Tuesday. They said that some of the militants killed were from Waziristan. Security forces had vacated their positions in Manzai about a month ago.

The militants have been under pressure, particularly after some local people raised a lashkar and started patrolling the town.

According to sources, about 600 tribesmen joined the Lashkar headed by Mufti Fazal Hanif and Haji Rahat Yousaf and the political administration had offered to support them with weapons.

Meanwhile, situation in Khar has started returning to normality and the supply of drinking water has been restored.

The disappearance of militant leader Maulvi Faqir Muhammad had triggered speculations about his death, but Taliban spokesman Maulvi Umar said that he was alive. Local people said that Maulvi Faqir had not been seen since a helicopter attack on some vehicles in Damadola last week. His son Abdullah was killed along with a few militants in the attack in which two vehicles were destroyed.