KHAR, Nov 17: Eleven militants, including a local ‘commander’, were killed in Bajaur in clashes and shelling on Monday.

Sources said three militants were killed and a tribal elder was injured in Inayat Kalley when some members of a Mamond tribe lashkar, on its way to attend a jirga in Khar, were surrounded and forced to take shelter in the house of a local tribal elder Malik Ismail Khan.

The siege was continuing till the filing of this report.

Military sources said eight militants and two civilians were killed when helicopter gunships and tanks targeted militant positions in Mamond and Nawagai tehsils. Local people said two civilians were also killed in crossfire.

Sources said local clerics were trying to avoid further bloodshed.

Expressing frustration at the situation, Local people said that government forces did not intervene despite the presence of a permanent military camp only a kilometre away, adding that this was happening quite frequently.

Meanwhile, bodies of two tribal elders, including tribal Lashkar chief Malik Fazal Mabud, were laid to rest in their native town.

A jirga of the Barang tribe was held in Khar on Monday, which vowed to support the government and continue to take action against militants until their complete ouster.

The jirga, addressed by Assistant Political Agent Mohammad Jamil Khan, was attended by about 500 tribesmen.

The jirga also handed over 20 persons wanted by the political administration. The administration had demanded the tribe to hand over 25 suspects.