October 31, 2008	Friday	Ziqa'ad 1, 1429

KOHAT, Oct 30: At least one security forces personnel and scores of militants were killed during a fierce gun battle in the mountains of Bosti Khel in Darra Adamkhel on Thursday afternoon, sources said.

Lance naik Mohammad Ramazan was confirmed dead in face to face fighting in the area.

Intense fighting continued the whole day between security forces and the trapped militants in Sunni Khel, Zara Khel, Qunj Gidar, Shahbaz Nika, Sara Mela, Amay Kamay and Koraam areas of Darra Adamkhel.Security forces also pounded the hideouts of militants in the mountains of Darra Adamkhel with artillery from Kohat side, officials said.

The artillery shelling was continuing till filing of this report.

Militants were holed up in Bosti Khel area and were trying to cross into Darra Adamkhel from Orakzai and Khyber agencies.

The Indus Highway and Kohat tunnel remained open as the fighting was continuing at the foot of Kotal hills without any threat to the passengers.

Meanwhile, police and army further tightened security at all the entrance points of the district and the cantonment anticipating reaction from the militants in the night as usual.

MILITANTS ARRESTED: Security forces also blew up seven houses and arrested nine militants besides seizing huge quantity of heavy arms during a search operation in different areas of Darra Adamkhel.

Sources said that houses of Adam Khan Afridi, Malik Said Asghar, Malik Inayat Ullah, Noor Akbar, Zar Din and Lal Zada in Sunni Khel, Koraam and Sra Mela areas were blown up for their alleged connections with the militants. In Koraam area security forces blew up several houses and seized huge quantity of heavy weapons and ammunition from the house of Noor Sher.

Locals and official sources said that villages in Sara Mela and Mehra had become safe havens for militants after the local population vacated their houses last month due to heavy artillery shelling.

CD SHOPS BLOWN UP: Militants blew up three CD shops and music centres in Shakar Darra area of Kohat district on Thursday evening.

The blasts caused partial damage to ten adjoining shops in Mangi market in main bazaar of Shakar Darra.