BUNER: A mass exodus continued from Buner district on Thursday amid intense artillery shelling by the security forces targeting militant positions on the tenth consecutive day.

Officials said that at least 10 militants were killed during clashes in the Elai village and its surrounding localities on Thursday.

The security forces claimed to have eliminated about 22 militants as they faced stiff resistance near the Elai village on Wednesday night.

The militants also blew up a bridge on the main road near Elai to stop advancement of the troops. The bridge was partially damaged, eye-witnesses said.

The security forces also shelled hideouts in Baboo Khan, Ghazikhanay, Sultanwas, Pacha, Rajgalai, Jaffar and Gokand areas during the night and on Thursday. More people left these localities during the curfew break from 11am to 5pm.

Sources said that the security forces had cordoned off the villages of Manawa and Shalbandai to flush out militants.

The local people have set up relief camps for the displaced persons at Totalai and Ghurghushtoo areas.

Residents said that the militants were present in the Chamla tehsil, while they have also controlled Bagra, Gokand, Gadezai, Asheezee and Salarzai areas.

They said that spy planes also continued to hover over these areas throughout the day.

Imran Khan Visits IDPs Camp

Tehrik-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan visited the IDPs’ camps in Totalai and Ghurghushtoo and expressed concern over the miseries of the people.

Talking to journalists on this occasion, Imran Khan held the government responsible for large-scale displaced and said that the military operation was launched in haste.

He bitterly criticized the government for launching operations in Dir and Buner, saying that the use of force in Swat could not deliver.

He said that the government should initiate dialogue with the militants and added that agreements should be honored by both sides to lessen the sufferings of the locals.