Musa Khankhel becomes the third journalist to be killed while covering the Swat conflict. - AFP PHOTO/HO/GEO NEWS.

MINGORA Musa Khankhel, A local journalist, was killed by unknown assailants in Matta area of Swat district on Wednesday.

Musa Khankhel, correspondent of The News and Geo TV was kidnapped by unidentified people from Matta area, where he was covering the convoy of the Tehreek Nifaz-i-Shariat Muhammadi`s chief Maulana Sufi Mohammad.

Later his bullet riddled body was found near Dedpani area of Matta sub-division. He became the third journalist killed in the Swat valley during the turmoil, while eight media men have so far been killed in the violence-hit districts of the Frontier province and adjacent tribal belt.

Khankhel was associated with journalism from 1993. He had expressed his fears against certain elements several times while covering the conflict.

Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) and Peshawar Press Club (PPC) have strongly condemned the killing of Musa Khankhel and have demanded of the government to immediately constitute an inquiry tribunal and arrest the perpetrators. KhUJ urged the government to protect the lives of journalists. They said that the government should award exemplary punishment to the killers of the journalist.

The journalist bodies also declared that Thursday would be observed as a black day to mourn the brutal killing of the journalist. The journalists would fasten black ribbons around their arms and stage a protest demonstration at Peshawar Press Club.