MINGORA, Jan 9: Security forces on Wednesday pounded with artillery positions occupied by militants in the upper reaches of the Swat valley and claimed to have arrested 18 suspected militants.

Officials said that they had arrested a doctor suspected of having links with the militants, adding that he had treated some injured militants.

Artillery fire was directed at areas in Gut Peuchar and Shawar localities. Some shells struck four houses in Manja village but no casualty was reported.

Sources said that one of the houses belonged to ‘commander’ Khalid, an associate of Maulana Fazlullah, who had already left the place.

The Inter Services Public Relations Directorate said that militants had fired on a military convoy while it was moving from Kanju to Kabal near the Ali Grama area late on Tuesday night. No loss of life was reported.

Following the attack, security forces combed the area and arrested the 18 suspects. Their names were not released.

Meanwhile, curfew was relaxed in Swat from 7am till

6pm, except the area between the Bariam bridge and Wanai bridge and the Peuchar valley.

There has been no break in curfew in these areas for two days.

People living in upper reaches of the valley were facing problems because of continuous snowfall and harsh weather. Traffic on the road between Mingora and Kalam remained suspended after avalanches blocked it at several points.