PESHAWAR/LANDI KOTAL: Mili­tary planes pounded Taliban hideouts in North Waziristan and Khyber tribal agencies on Tuesday, killing 47 militants and destroying 23 hideouts, according to a statement issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The claim could not be verified from independent sources and witnesses said that six members of a family were also killed in the air strike in Khyber Agency.

The ISPR statement also said that troops thwarted an attempt by a suicide bomber to blow up an explosives-laden vehicle at a checkpost in Spinwam area. Soldiers opened fire on the suicide bomber’s vehicle before it could reach the checkpost. The vehicle exploded and two soldiers and a civilian died when the roof of a nearby building collapsed because of the intensity of the explosion.

The statement said that 27 terrorists were killed in air attacks on suspected Taliban positions in Mirali and adjoining areas. Eleven hideouts and a large store of arms and ammunition were destroyed.

Air strikes were also carried out in Khyber Agency early in the morning, killing 20 insurgents and destroying 12 hideouts.

Security officials said that the planes targeted Wocha Wana, Rajgal and Pak Dara areas where terrorists fleeing from North Waziristan had taken refuge. At least 20 militants were killed while a number of hideouts were destroyed.

Witnesses said that a bomb hit the house of one Khan Wali in Pak Dara Arwa, killing six members of his family. There was no official word on civilian casualties.

Meanwhile, two militants belonging to a local banned group were injured when troops patrolling the Frontier road in Akkakhel area opened fire on them after they ignored a signal to stop their motorbike for a routine check and tried to escape. The two were taken into custody.

In Shah Kas area of Jamrud, a khasadar man was injured in an attack by two unidentified men on a motorcycle.

Meanwhile, evacuation of displaced persons from North Waziristan came to a halt with the imposition of curfew in the entire area. An official said that the curfew had left a large number of civilians stranded in several areas.

Officials of the Disaster Management Authority have registered 36,514 families from North Waziristan Agency at Saidgi registration point. An untoward incident took place in Bannu when police fired in the air to disperse a large group of protesting IDPs.

The protesters blocked the Bannu-Kohat Road and pelted vehicles with stones. They were complaining about mismanagement in distribution of food items. They said that separate distribution points should be set up for people of each tehsil of North Waziristan to make it convenient for the displaced families to receive relief goods.

MNA from Miramshah Malik Nazir Khan was present during the protest. The Bannu district administration held talks with elders and assured them of all possible help.

The IDPs demanded their families which could not get themselves registered during the mass evacuation from the agency should be registered forthwith. They also complained that children were suffering from gastroenteritis and other stomach diseases due to hot weather conditions.

The ISPR said that six ration distribution points had been set up for the IDPs — three in Bannu, two in Dera Ismail Khan and one in Tank.

It said that distribution of 4,473 tons of ration among 40,000 families will start on Wednesday. The army has established 32 points for collection of relief goods and donations in major cities of the country.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2014