LANDI KOTAL, Sept 1 At least 40 suspected militants were killed and 43 others captured in a new military offensive in the Bara area of Khyber tribal region on Tuesday.

Helicopter gunships provided cover to troops.

The local administration imposed curfew in Bara tehsil in the morning before the operation, Biya Daraghlam (Here I come again), was launched.

In an earlier operation, named 'Here I come', the army did not succeed to enforce the writ of the government in Bara and the area remained under the control of the outlawed Lashkar-i-Islam.

Briefing journalists, Khyber Agency's Political Agent Capt (retd) Tariq Hayat Khan said there was no time-limit for the new operation and it would continue till the achievement of all its objectives.

He said the operation had been launched at the request of the people of Bara whose lives had been made miserable by anti-social elements. He said the curfew would be lifted only after the security forces had gained control of the situation.

Capt Hayat said that peaceful people of the area would not be harmed, but those who had challenged the writ of the government would be severely dealt with.

Referring to deaths of security personnel in recent attacks, he said “It's payback time and we are going to pay back with interest.”

He said the operation was not only against the Lashkar-i-Islam, but against all groups, organisations and individuals who had challenged the government. He said the people who had been detained would be released if they proved their innocence. He refuted allegations that some captured people had been shot at close range and said that militants were killed only when they put up resistance.

Military commander for Khyber Agency Brig Fayyaz was present at the briefing.

Two leaders of the banned group, Murad and Abdur Rehman, were among those killed.

Security personnel blocked all points of entry to Bara and the local bazaar was closed. Troops operated mainly in Shalobar, Qamakhel and Malikdinkhel areas.

Ali Hazrat Bacha adds from Peshawar Police arrested at least 20 suspected militants who were fleeing towards Peshawar after the operation was launched in Bara.SSP (Operation) Abdul Ghafoor Afridi said around 500 policemen had been deployed at 35 points on the Kohat road, Bara road and around Hayatabad Township.

According to sources, police intended to launch an operation in the outskirts of Peshawar against people who were supporting militants and criminals.