LANDI KOTAL, Jan 14: Security forces carrying out an operation against militants in Landi Kotal imposed a day-long curfew and demolished houses of four suspected militants on Wednesday.

The Torkham border was sealed to prevent the entry of Afghans into the area. The imposition of curfew and the closure of Torkhum border caused temporary suspension of traffic on the main Peshawar-Torkham highway, briefly disrupting supplies for Nato forces in Afghanistan.

Security forces cordoned off the Khugakhel locality and demolished the houses of Taliban cleric Hazrat Nabi alias Tamanche Mulla, Shah Pur, Noor Nabi and Murad.

Hazrat Nabi, a brother Hazrat Ali, and the others are accused of having active links with Taliban and helping militants in Landi Kotal. The four had rejected the order to surrender.

Local people said that security forces fired in the air while demolishing the house.

Landi Kotal’s political tehsildar Nasir Khan described the ongoing operation as successful, but declined to explain why his administration had failed to arrest the wanted men.