November 04, 2008	Tuesday	Ziqa'ad 5, 1429

MINGORA, Nov 3: Five persons were killed and a policeman was kidnapped in restive Swat region on Monday.

Helicopter gunships also continued to pound militant hideouts in Dhero and Dagai areas of tehsil Kabal. Three vehicles were destroyed in the operation and a cab driver identified as Nadir Khan was killed. A Suzuki pickup and another vehicle also came under the attack.

In Kabal Khas four bullet-riddled bodies including a man and son were found on the bank of river Swat on Monday morning.

The killed persons were identified as Fazal and his son Shah Wali Khan and Aziz. The identity of the fourth deceased could not be ascertained.

Local residents after getting information about the presence of bodies reached the spot and laid them to rest in their native town. A large number of people participated in their funeral.

The motive behind the killing was yet to be ascertained as no group claimed responsibility for the killing.

In Allahabad area of Charbagh unidentified persons kidnapped a police constable. Residents of the area said that police constable, Shams, was on his way to Khwazakhela from Mingora when armed men whisked him away near Allahabad area of Charbagh tehsil and shifted him to undisclosed location.

JIRGA: Kanju Peace Jirga has presented four-point formula to local Taliban leadership for restoration of peace in the region.

Taliban have assured the jirga that their demands would be put before the Taliban Shura for consideration, adding the jirga would be informed after the Shura meeting.

The four-point formula include reinforcement of peace accord singed between NWFP government and Swat Taliban, Taliban proposals for amendments to the peace accord, Taliban’s reaction regarding draft of Sharia regulation and resumption of talks or initiation of fresh talks between the two sides to reach an understanding.

Peace jirga chief Syed Inamur Rehman during his recent backdoor meeting with government functionaries and Taliban leaders had expressed optimism that both sides would reach a viable solution to end the ongoing violence in the Swat valley.