MANSEHRA/MIGORA, July 13: Army and paramilitary troops started patrolling violence-hit areas of Battagram and Swat districts of the NWFP on Friday after reports that most of the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had wound up their activities in the earthquake-hit areas, sources said.

In the wake of violent demonstrations in the Battagram district, some 68 kilometres from Mansehra town, during which offices of national and international NGOs were ransacked and armed people took up positions on hilltops, troops were deployed in the Allai valley and Battagram town.

The administration, through local elders, is engaged in negotiations with the armed people to persuade them to stop firing.

Unrest in the area started after the July 10 operation against Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa in Islamabad.

A mob ransacked offices of two foreign relief organisations in the Battagram district and blocked the Karakoram Highway on July 10.

Workers of some of the NGOs said they had stopped their work in Battagram and their staff had moved out of the district.