LANDI KOTAL: As an operation against militants progresses in Khyber Agency, military planes attacked and destroyed four hideouts and killed 21 suspected militants. Later in a clash in Spin Qabar area of Bara tehsil of the same agency, ISPR said, eight soldiers lost their lives.

According to officials, in the air attack on Lashkar-i-Islam’s hideouts, the militants killed included three important leaders of the banned group.

The group’s chief for Sipah area, Pir Mehmud, and LI’s prominent leaders Shams and Arif had a criminal record and were involved in heinous crimes, the officials said.

The claim about militants’ death could not be independently verified.

Four hideouts destroyed during military operation in Bara

Meanwhile, local sources said that LI leader Said Noor had surrendered along with his 50 supporters.

However, LI spokesman in Bara Saifullah refuted reports about his group’s men surrendering to the security forces and claimed that they had killed at least nine soldiers and injured 14.

The security forces also pounded LI positions in Sipah, Malakdinkhel and Akkakhel areas with heavy artillery till late in the evening.

Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif attended in Peshawar the funeral of the soldiers killed in Bara clash and later met the injured to enquire after their health.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2014