MINGORA, Sept 11: At least eight militants were killed when security forces, backed by helicopter gunships and artillery, pounded suspected militant hideouts in Swat on Thursday.

Local ISPR spokesman Col Nadim said six militants were killed when helicopters shelled the house of a Taliban ‘commander’, Sher Ali, in Ningoli village of Kabal tehsil. Sher Ali and his two sons were injured and the house was razed to the ground.

Militants attacked a base camp of security forces in Sher Falam from the mountains of Shakardara in the morning. The security forces cordoned off the area and shot dead two militants during a search operation. The bodies were handed over to tribal elders.

Militants shot dead constable Dost Mohammad, a guard of Swat police chief, and his daughter in Bamakhela area of Matta tehsil. The constable was on leave when he was attacked outside his home.

Suspected militants blew up the abandoned houses and a hujra of late pro-government tribal elder Musa Khan and his brother Mohibullah in Ningoli.

Musa Khan, a former councillor, was killed by suspected militants a few days ago.

Cobra helicopters pounded suspected militant positions in Koza Bandai on Thursday.