MINGORA, Dec 4: Malak Samin Khan, senior vice-president of the Awami National Party for Dir Upper district was gunned down here on Thursday.

Police said that the ANP leader who belonged to the Badalai area of Nehag Dara in tehsil Wari had come to Mingora to appear before an anti-terrorist court in a case.

Malak Samin has been active in organising a lashkar to flush out militants from the region.

According to sources, a local spokesman for Taliban, Hafizullah, has claimed responsibility for the murder and said the ANP leader was involved in anti-Taliban activities.

The spokesman warned that anyone involved in setting up lashkars or other anti-Taliban activities would meet the same fate.

Meanwhile, a handout issued by the Swat media centre said that 10 militants were killed during the military operation on Thursday.

Troops destroyed a vehicle that they suspected had been prepared for a suicide attack. An arms and ammunition depot of militants in Malam Jabba area of Matta was blown up.

In another incident, a suicide bomber’s explosive-laden car exploded near a security checkpost on the Airport road. According to sources, the bomber detonated the explosives prematurely, about 100 yards away from the checkpost.

This was the second such attack in the area. A few days ago, a suicide bomber’s car was stuck in traffic on the Mingora-Kalam road and he blew himself up about 40 yards away from a checkpost in Sangota.

Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan claimed responsibility for Thursday’s attack and said that the bomber’s car had developed some problem and it stopped before reaching the target. The car exploded when security personnel at the checkpost fired on it.

Meanwhile, four bodies were found in different areas of the valley on Thursday.

Police said that two bullet-riddled bodies of people kidnapped from Khairabad two days ago were found in Kala Kally area of Kabal. The other two bodies were found in Gashkor area of Khwazakhela.