GHALANAI, Oct 28: Security forces on Tuesday reportedly apprehended five Taliban including a key local commander in the Mohmand Agency.

Major Farooq told the media at the Mohmand Rifles’ headquarters in Ghalanai that they had information that a group of militants was heading towards security camps in Khanch and Yousufkhel areas to carry out an assault on the posts.

The security forces launched a search operation and after an hour-long gun battle, four militants were arrested, who were identified as Usman, Mohamamd Zaman, Bilal and Mosa Khan, he added.

He said the accused militants were Pakistani nationals, adding that five militants managed to escape. He claimed that three militants were also wounded in the clash, while three Kalashnikov rifles, hand-grenades, cellphones and thousands of cartridges were seized from their possession.

Almost all bazaars in the agency remained close on the second consecutive day, he said, adding that the Peshawar-Bajaur road remained closed for traffic. Meanwhile, security forces arrested a key local militant commander Qari Jamal at Krapa checkpost near Pindyali. —Correspondent