BATKHELA, June 25 A jirga of more than 100 elders of Alladhan and Dherai areas have decided to form a tribal lashkar to check the activities of militants in the region.
The jirga was held at the office of District Coordination Officer Arshad Khan in Malakand. “The jirga extended all out cooperation to the local administration for maintaining law and order and flushing out a handful of militants,” a tribal leader privy to the meeting told Dawn.
He said that some militants were active in Alladhan, Dherai, Maizara, Thana, Amanddara and Jalala areas.
The militants, though few in number, were seen patrolling on the link roads and even Batkhela and Thana bazaars, locals and official sources said.
The area is also stronghold of defunct Tanzim Nifaz Shariat-i-Muhammadi as its headquarter is situated in Bilal Mosque Amandra. However, the entire top leadership of TNSM has gone underground to avoid arrests.
The convoys of security forces were attacked several times in the area. The security forces also launched search operation in Thana and dismantled several houses of suspected militants. The troops also pounded their hideouts in the mountains of Nalow and Gunyar villages.
The residents said that militants were also seen erecting barricades and checking vehicles on Palai road near Thana.
The DCO urged the elders to forma a tribal lashkar and flush out suspected militants, sources said. The DCO also warned of military operation in the region if the elders failed to flush out militants, sources added.
Sources said the DCO had sent special vehicles to ensure safe arrival and return of the elders during curfew timings.
The elders, sources said, assured the DCO that tribal lashkar would be raised and immediate action would be taken against the militants.
The elders, sources said, opposed military action in the area, saying they would be able to flush out militants from on their own.
They said the people of region were peaceful and devoted citizens of Pakistan. They vowed that a handful of anti-people and anti-state elements would not be let to disturb peace of the region.
SHOT DEAD A mentally retarded person was shot dead for violating curfew in Batkheal Bazaar on Thursday. Officials said that Farooq son of Mohammad Saeed alias Pathan attacked security personnel in the bazaar during curfew hours. The security men opened fire on him and killed him on the spot.
FIRE BREAKS OUT The authorities failed to extinguish the fire, which broke out in the forests of Bata Pahari near the FC Fort Malakand four days ago, on Thursday.
A large number of precious three reduced to ashes. The people of the area have expressed anguish over the authorities' apathy, saying that the forest was being destroyed which might affect the climate negatively. They have demanded immediate action to save the scenic area.