NORTH WAZIRISTAN: Two soldiers and as many civilians were martyred in different areas of volatile North Waziristan tribal district on Saturday.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said two security personnel lost their lives during an intelligencebased operation near Spelga village. They said unidentified assailants opened fire at Havaldar Tajbar Ali and Sepoy Abdur Rashid when they were on their way to a check-post.

Havaldar Tajbar, 38, belonged to Swat while Sepoy Rashid, 22, was a resident of Parachinar.

Following the attack, security forces started a search operation in the area.

According to police, bullet-riddled bodies of two people were found in the Shera Tala area of Mirali sub-division. Police identified the dec­eased as Hameed, who bel­onged to the Dosali area, and Nasrullah from Qotabkhel.

Family sources said armed men had kidnapped the two people about one week ago. Local people found the bodies and informed the police. The bodies were brought to the tehsil headquarters hospital in Mirali where they were identified.

Militants have intensified their activities in North Waz­iristan and South Waziristan tribal districts over the past few months. Security personnel and civilians are being attacked. Sources said that roughly 40 personnel, including officers, had been martyred since March while 109 people had been gunned down.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2020