MINGORA, Feb 23: A security man and a militant were killed, and eight suspects were arrested in Swat’s Gul Jabba, Nawakalley and Watke areas on Saturday.

A militant hailing from Parachinar (Kurram Agency) was killed and three others, one of them belonging to Miramshah, were apprehended by security forces during a raid in Kabal tehsil’s Gul Jabba area.

According to the Swat Media Centre, the security man was killed in an exchange of fire between security forces and militants loyal to the radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah. The security personnel had cordoned off the entire area and pounded militant hideouts, forcing the local people to vacate their homes and shift to safe places. Three militants were arrested and weapons were seized from their possessions. The detainees were taken to undisclosed locations for interrogation.

The Mingora police raided a workshop in the city’s Nawakalley area on Saturday on receiving a tip-off that a vehicle with bombs was allegedly being prepared for suicide attacks. Police seized the explosive-laden vehicle, three containers of bomb-making material, huge cache of arms and spare parts. The owner of the workshop, Mirajuddin, son of Aamaduddin, fled along with five other suspects. Police arrested his servant Salahuddin. The other accused, Sher Ali, Yaqoob, Hassan and Mohammad Islam, were arrested later in a raid in Watake area.

Police claimed Mirajuddin was the mastermind behind many attacks, including the one on former SSP Swat Mazharul Haq, FC trucks and army convoys.