ISLAMABAD: The army says 10 more militants in Bara tehsil of restive Khyber tribal region have surrendered to security forces along with their weapons and ammunition.

In a short statement to media on Monday, the military’s public relations wing said 350 militants have so far surrendered to security forces since the start of Operation Khyber-1 last month.

The total number includes more than 20 key militant commanders, said the statement.

On Friday, 39 militants belonging to Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) surrendered to security forces – the largest group of militants to give up arms since the launching of the intelligence-based operation.

The military launched the offensive on October 16 with air strikes against LI hideouts in the areas of Tirah and Bara controlled by militant commander Mangal Bagh.

The outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (Tariq Afridi group) also controls several parts of Tirah valley, but the outfit joined hands with LI chief Mangal Bagh after he invited all outlawed militant groups to come to Bara and fight against security forces following the launch of the military operation.

Also read: Lashkar-i-Islam continues to broadcast ‘Khyber Mullah’ sermons despite operation

The latest news of surrenders follows reports that the Mangal Bagh continues to broadcast fiery speeches and propaganda sermons via their pirate FM radio station, despite the all-out military offensive in the region.

On Friday, militants publicly beheaded a tribesman in nearby Tirah valley after accusing him of spying for security forces.

According to military sources, at least 135 militants have been killed and at least 250 arrested since the start of the operation.

The Fata Disaster Management Authority says 53,819 families comprising 364,960 people have so far moved out of Bara and Tirah valley. There are 213,195 children and 77,319 women among them.