MINGORA, Aug 16 At least four soldiers were injured in a suicide attack on a checkpost in the Naway Kallay area in Mingora on Sunday evening.

Earlier, bodies of 18 militants were found in various areas of Swat and security forces killed six militants in a clash in Dehrai.

The bodies were found from Islampur, Kota, Gorthai, Gunbad Mera, Dehrai and Dewolai — eight of them were found in Dehrai in Kabal tehsil, once a militant stronghold.

Official sources said about 80 bodies had been found over the past three months.

“There are different factors behind these killings. We suspect that in most of the cases angry residents in different areas have settled scores with the militants,” said Swat DPO Sajid Khan Mohmand.

He said that the killings could also be attributed to internal differences among militants and in some cases they might have killed some of their men who they think could talk during interrogation.

When asked if police registered FIRs in such cases, he said that a case was registered only if a relative approached them.

The six militants killed in a clash with security forces were identified as Nawab Ali and Aftab Ali of Dehrai and Sher Alam, Umer Raheem, Rehmatullah and Mohammad Rafiq of Nengolai.

Troops also shelled Banjot and Shengrai villages near Manglawar but no casualty was reported.

Security was beefed up in Waliabad after Saturday's suicide bombing.

Soldiers arrested nine suspects during a search operation — five in Kabal tehsil and four in Aligrama.

CHAGARZAI CLEARED Also on Sunday, troops completed a clean-up operation in Chagarzai in Buner district and declared the area clear of militants.

All areas adjoining Swat and Shangla are now under the control of security forces.