MARDAN, Oct 12: Four militants were killed and more than 50 arrested in the ongoing operation, jointly launched by security forces and police, in Katlang and its surroundings, sources said on Tuesday.

Army, Frontier Corps and local police backed by helicopter gunships have launched search operation in Katlong and Gulibagh areas of Mardan district to net the killers of noted religious scholar and Vice-chancellor of Swat University Dr Mohammad Farooq Khan.

Sources said that four militants were killed during a clash with security forces in Katlang. The joint operation was launched early on Monday morning and continued till late Tuesday night.

Official sources said that more than 50 suspected persons were taken into custody. However, independent sources said the number of detained persons was much higher than that. The arrested persons were shifted to undisclosed location for interrogation.

UPPER DIR: Two militants were killed by the volunteers of a local lashkar in Doog Dara area of Upper Dir on Tuesday.

The lashkar, backed by security forces, raided a house and killed two militants identified as Noor Zada son of Niaz and Luqman son of Badshah Khan. The killed militants were allegedly involved in kidnapping of three volunteers of lashkar on August 29. The kidnapped volunteers were later slaughtered.

GHALANAI: Three volunteers of a peace committee were killed during a clash with militant in Halki Kohi area of tehsil Khwaizai in Mohmand tribal region on Tuesday.

Sources said that the volunteers at a checkpost tried to stop a suspected person riding on a motorbike but he fled away. Later, a group of militants attacked the checkpoint and killed three volunteers. The names of the deceased could not be ascertained.

Meanwhile, a government-run primary school for girls was blown up in Safi tehsil on Tuesday. The residents of the area said that militants planted explosive devices at the school in Qalagai area between Monday and Tuesday night.

The blast destroyed the school building.

WANA: Four personnel of security forces sustained injuries when militants attacked a checkpost in Tabai area of Makeen tehsil.

The militants used heavy and sophisticated weapons during the attack, wounding four of security men, officials said. After attacking the checkposts, militants managed to escape.