KHAR, Oct 22: Security forces on Wednesday launched a search operation in the Lowi Sam area in Bajaur Agency.

“Lowi Sam is under security forces’ control. It has been cordoned off and a search operation is under way,” military sources said, adding that security forces were fortifying their positions and setting up posts in the area.

The sources said that militants had left several booby traps, bunkers and tunnels in the area which would be cleared in a couple of days.

Meanwhile, the Lashkar of Salarzai tribes burnt houses of 12 militants in the Banda area, considered to be a militant stronghold.

Political Tehsildar of Salarzai Adalat Khan said that those houses belonged to “important Taliban leaders, including its local Amir Qari Gul Raz, in the Banda village”.

Sources said that the Lashkar also burnt the house of a militant ‘commander’ in the Surdag area of Salarzai.

According to the inspector-general of the Frontier Corps, the main tribal Lashkar was flushing out militants from the area.

The sources said that a few members of the Lashkar were either killed or injured in a fierce clash with the militants.

Security forces continued offensive operations in Charmang, Chinar and Kohi areas of Nawagai tehsil.

Helicopters and jet fighters shelled militants’ positions in Zorbandar and Azernaw areas in the Khar tehsil and Dabbar, Badan and Sewai areas of the Salarzai tehsil.

Sources said that at least 12 militants had been killed and 10 others wounded in air strikes.

Troops also attacked a group of militants who were trying to infiltrate Charmang from the adjacent Mohmand area on Tuesday night.

Two militants were reportedly killed in the clash and two others wounded.