Checkposts would remain intact in the area to provide security to tribesmen and stop movement of militants from the adjacent Orakzai Agency.  — Dawn (File Photo)

The sector commander of Tor Chappar operation, Col Shahid, told journalists that 55 militants were killed and scores of suspects were arrested during the operation. However, some of them managed to escape to other areas. The operation was launched in the area on January 27.

Flanked by district coordination officer, who also holds charge of political agent of Frontier Region of Kohat, the sector commander briefed journalists about the operation on Tuesday.

He said that that the operation was launched to stop militants from shuttling between Darra Adamkhel and Orakzai Agency. “During this action, two soldiers died while one was injured,” he said.

The official said that 200 displaced families had returned to the area and those still living in Peshawar and Kohat would be rehabilitated soon. Each family would be given one month ration, he said.

He said that checkposts would remain intact in the area to provide security to tribesmen and stop movement of militants from the adjacent Orakzai Agency.

However, independent sources said that Tor Chappar was still infested with militants.

The security forces had launched operation in the whole Darra Adamkhel valley in 2005 but they did not succeed to stop infiltration of militants from Orakzai and Khyber agencies. Tor Chappar had also a long mountainous border with district Kohat.

Various operations were carried out in the area from time to time and hideouts of militants were targeted with artillery since 2005. But a Tor Chappar-specific operation was launched last month, according to military sources.