MARDAN, May 29 Security forces killed a militant and arrested his associate during an exchange of fire in the Shamilath area here early Saturday morning.

Officials said security personnel raided a seminary in Shamilat on a tip-off and exchanged fire with militants present inside the seminary for several hours. One militant, Siyar, was killed and his associate, Abu Zar, hailing from Swat, was arrested.

The forces seized arms and ammunition from their possession.

Meanwhile, police recovered a kidnapped boy from a house in the Khataan Barikab village, 25 kilometres from the Mardan city, on Saturday.

Officials said nine-year-old Sher Alamin had been taken away from a mosque few days ago and the kidnappers had demanded ransom from his father Mohammad Amin.

In his FIR with the Rustam police, Mr Amin had nominated three brothers Rahim Dad, Amin Dad and Hasan Dad in the kidnapping case.

On a tip-off, police raided a house in Khataan Barikab and recovered the boy. However, the accused escaped.

NOWSHERA An alleged Afghan Taliban commander and his aide were arrested in a raid on a house in the Azakhel refugee camp by law-enforcement agencies on Saturday.

Acting on a tip-off, security personnel surrounded the hujra and house of Afghan refugee Din Mohammad and arrested alleged Taliban commander Ibrahim and Akbar Gul.

Official sources said Ibrahim belonged to the Afghan province of Logar and was wanted to both Pakistan and Afghan authorities for having links with Al Qaeda, Tehrik-i-Taliban and other militant outfits.

KOHAT Authorities clamped curfew on the Doaba road and suspended mobile phone facility in Hangu as the military operation in Orakzai Agency intensified on Saturday.

Security forces also launched search for militants in upper parts of the Orakzai Agency.

GHALANAI Two persons, including a child, were injured in two landmine blasts in the Mohmand Agency on Saturday.

Sources said 10-year-old Zubair suffered critical wounds as he hit a landmine planted by militants in Qandaharo, Safi tehsil.

In the second incident, a peace committee volunteer was injured when a landmine exploded in the Lakhkar Kalley area of the Baizai tehsil.

The injured were taken to the Agency Headquarter Hospital in Ghalani from where they were referred to Peshawar.