TIMERGARA: A former village nazim was killed in an exchange of fire between security forces and suspected militants at Shawa Adenzai within the jurisdiction of Ouch police station here on Wednesday.

Sources told Dawn that security forces carried out an operation after receiving information that some militants had taken shelter in a house in Shawa village of Lower Dir.

They said the militants, who were allegedly involved in several terrorist activities, had sneaked into the area from Afghanistan a few days ago.

When the security forces cordoned off the area, the alleged terrorists opened fire on troops.

A local resident, Faisal, was also killed in the firing when he tried to leave the area. He was taken to a hospital in Chakdara where the doctors pronounced him dead. The militants managed to escape, the sources said.

Faisal was a former village nazim.

Security forces claimed that one of the militants was injured in the firing and said he would be apprehended soon.

District police officer Shahbaz Wazir and station house officer Bahadar Zeb did not confirm the incident.

The operation continued till the filing of this report. The incident spread panic and fear in the area.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2019