MINGORA, April 10: Seven suspected militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Swat, officials said on Sunday. They said that a group of militants was stopped from entering the district from Lower Dir on Saturday night and when soldiers patrolling the area asked them to show their identity, they refused and opened fire.

In the ensuing exchange of fire, seven militants were killed and two soldiers were injured.

The deceased were identified as Dair Alam, Sher Zada, Abdur Rehman, Salih Rehman, Fazl Tawab, Faqir Jan and Shamsul Hudda. The official claim could not be verified from independent sources.

Agencies add: The suspects were believed to have been fleeing an army operation in Mohmand.

Police official Sher Alam says the insurgents are believed to originally hail from Swat.