CHARSADDA, Nov 17: Fourteen militants, three civilians and a policeman were killed in clashes and artillery fire in Shabqadar and adjoining areas on Monday.

Prof Ayaz, chief of the Resistance Tehrik in Mohmand, was among 26 militants arrested by security forces.

Helicopter gunships and tanks pounded militants’ positions in Shabqadar for the sixth consecutive day.

Security forces said that militants were repulsed when they tried to attack on an FC camp in the Aisha Korona area and 12 of the militants were killed.Two militants and one civilian were killed in a clash in Shinow Ghundai.

Two civilians were injured by security forces’ firing in Mian Kalley.

Meanwhile, the guard of the Shabqadar SHO was killed when troops opened fire on a police patrol van during curfew. In protest against the incident, police decided not to take part in the operation.

In Michni, the local chief of Tehrik-i-Taliban, Abu Hanifa, threatened suicide attacks in major cities and said a suicide squad had been sent to Islamabad and elsewhere.

Accusing security forces of arresting ‘innocent tribesmen’, he claimed that his organisation had not lost any fighter in action.

He said Taliban were “ready to maintain peace in the area if troops pull out”.

Our correspondent in Mohmand adds: Militants fired mortar shells on Ghalanai, the agency headquarters, but no casualty was reported.

Security forces attacked militants’ hideouts with heavy weapons in Miangan, Babikhel, Wazir Kalley and adjoining areas.

Local people complained about stray shells landing in civilian areas and damaging several houses.