MINGORA, Dec 5: Security forces have advanced further into areas of Swat vacated by militants and secured their stronghold of Khwazakhela, 27kms from here.

Local people said police have taken control of the Matta police station which had been renamed by militants as the “Taliban station Matta”. The militants burnt the station’s records before vacating it a few days ago.

The civil administration started functioning in the town and forces established a checkpoint in Matta town. There were no signs of militants in the area.

Troops from the adjoining Shangla district entered a village on the Mingora- Kalam road, that was regarded in the past as a base of the defunct Tehrik Nifaz-i-Shariat Mohammadi (TNSM).

The ISPR claimed that troops had launched a search operation, adding that the civil administration would be restored in the area soon.

A checkpoint was also set up on the Khwazakhela bridge and every vehicle passing through it was being checked. Personnel of the Frontier Corps, Frontier Constabulary and police are manning the post.

After securing Matta, troops plan to move against militants in other areas of the tehsil, including Choprial and Peuchaar where militants reportedly have training camps. The troops plan to move later to the tourist resorts of Madyan and Bahrain, which also have been vacated by militants.

Local journalists were taken to the Bariam bridge post, the entry point to Matta town, on Wednesday. They were shown areas that had been under occupation of the militants.