ALPURI (Shangla), May 31 Security forces launched on Sunday an operation in Yakh Tanghi Top, killing several Taliban and destroying their hideouts and a base.

Artillery units based in Shangla Top attacked several hideouts of militants who had sneaked into the area from Swat and Buner.

Official sources said that a government rest-house in Yakh Tanghi built by the former ruler of Swat and being used by militants as their base was hit by shells, leaving several militants dead.

The ISPR said the building was used to train militants. The area has witnessed a significant movement of militants for a couple of days.

The militants recently blew up an abandoned police post near the rest-house.

This is the first action taken by troops in Shangla during their operation.

In Nov 2007, militants had occupied different parts of Shangla, including Alpuri, but were forced to leave their positions.

Security forces have given three days from Sunday to notables of southern areas of Puran, Chakesar and Martung to expel the Taliban or face army action. The militants have occupied three roads leading to Puran tehsil.

In the meantime, people from northern parts of Swat continue to reach Lenolai where the district administration has set up a camp in a high school.Over 1,000 people, including women and children, arrived here after a long and arduous journey of 10 hours.

Most of the displaced people arriving from Swat stay here for a few days and when curfew is relaxed, they move on to Hazara and other parts of the country from here.

At present, two temporary relief camps, one in Lenolai and the other in Aloch, have been set up.

Shangla DCO Altaf Hussain told Dawn that the district administration had been given one million rupees by the provincial government for looking after the displaced people and the entire amount had been spent.

He requested the government for additional financial assistance immediately.

He said over the past three days the administration had registered around 4,100 displaced people from Swat.

Suspension of power and telecommunication facilities has badly affected the functioning of the district administration. Only one tower of a cellular phone company remains operational and that too remains switched off most of the time because of fuel shortage.

Meanwhile, the security in charge of the China Camp and his driver who were kidnapped 10 days ago, have been released.

Colonel (retd) Khaqan and his driver were kidnapped from the camp in Besham which has constructed some small hydro-power stations in Shangla, Kohistan and Battgram districts.