MIRAMSHAH, March 7: Security forces have destroyed a school run by a wanted cleric in the tribal headquarters of North Waziristan Agency, while an uneasy calm prevailed elsewhere in the restive area, residents and officials said on Tuesday.

The residents said a building housing Maulvi Abdul Khaliq’s Darul Uloom Faredia Gulshan-i-Ilum was reduced to rubble following an attack by a Cobra helicopter gunship.

“At least four rockets were fired from the helicopter gunship,” said an eyewitness.

Officials said that Maulvi Khaliq had been using the religious school as a meeting place for militants in the area.

A source said that the school had nearly 200 youth on its rolls. However, none of them was injured as they had all been evacuated from the building before the attack. Maulvi Khaliq was also not there at the time of the attack.

Officials said that Miramshah was largely peaceful on Tuesday following three days of clashes.

They said that around 140 militants had been killed in the clashes which broke out on Saturday.

Tension prevailed in Miramshah bazaar where authorities had imposed curfew on Monday. A jirga of Ulema, which took an initiative to restore peace, ended without making any headway.

Troops continued to patrol Miramshah bazaar and Mirali-Miramshah road, while helicopter gunships flew overhead. Paramilitary troops had taken up positions on rooftops and other strategic points overlooking the bazaar.

Eyewitnesses said that troops had launched a campaign in the area to appease tribesmen and gain their support in the ongoing drive against militants.

Announcements were made from loudspeakers soliciting the support of tribesman against militants.

“O Muslim brothers, don’t get scared of us. We are fighting against terrorists and the Indian agents. We need your support in this campaign,” it was announced from an army vehicle.

AGENCIES ADD: “The curfew is continuing today so the situation can return to normal quickly,” political agent Zaheerul Islam told Reuters by telephone.