SWAT, Jan 27: Fifty militants, including a local commander, were arrested during a military operation in Sambat, Bodigram and Matta areas of Upper Swat on Sunday.

Officials and local people said that a Taliban commander, identified as Sher Mohammad Khan, and about 30 of the detained people were hardcore militants loyal to cleric Maulana Fazlullah and wanted by the authorities.

According to the officials, the commander, a close aide of the cleric, was involved in attacks on security forces, government installations and several cases of killings.

The Media Information Centre in Mingora said a large quantity of arms and ammunition, including detonators, Kalashnikovs, rifles, pistols, shotguns and live rounds had been seized.

Meanwhile, police on Sunday found the headless body of a government official in Charbagh. He was identified as Abdul Qayyum, DFC of the Charbagh police station hailing from Pirano Kallay in Malakand. A note found with the body warned that those spying for security forces would meet the same fate.

In Chuprial, militants attacked a pick-up carrying a local man. Sher Ali, who was going to Gwal Dheri, was burned to death.

The motive behind the killing was not known, but local people said that the victim had attended various jirgas and openly supported the military operation against militants.

Life in Swat was peaceful as markets and shops remained open on Sunday.

Meanwhile, a peace jirga was held in a private school run by a local NGO in Swat. About 1,500 elders from across the valley, except Matta and Kabal, attended the jirga organised by All Swat Private Schools Organisation president Ziauddin Khan.

Jirga members held both the government and militants backed by Maulana Fazlullah responsible for the situation in the valley.

They demanded an immediate halt to the military operation and withdrawal of troops. They asked the militants to leave the area and avoid imposing a war on the peace-loving people of Swat.

The jirga said that the economy, tourism industry, education and peace and harmony of

Swat had been ruined by the clashes between security forces and militants.