MINGORA, Aug 15: Militants blew up the office of a tehsildar, a girls’ school and 46 shops in Swat on Friday while security forces pressed ahead with their operation.

The forces, backed by helicopter gunships and artillery, attacked militants’ positions in Shor, Namal, Gut and Peuchar areas of Matta and Deolai, Manja and Taran areas of Kabal.

Witnesses said that two powerful bombs exploded in the Qalandar Khan market of Mingora, destroying 46 shops, including 12 CD shops and a snooker club.

A number of nearby shops and buildings, including the Khyber hotel, were partially damaged.

A watchman said that eight armed men entered the market and forced him out. The explosion took place soon after.

Local people started firing, but the militants managed to escape.

Another bomb was exploded on the Thakhtaband bypass road, but caused no casualty. Another 15km bomb was defused at the same place. The militants had planted three bombs in the office of the tehsildar and the girls’ primary school in Charbagh, which exploded at intervals destroying official records and furniture.