Two militants killed in Mohmand attack

Thursday, October 29, 2009

GHALLANAI: Two militants were killed and four others sustained injuries when security forces repulsed an attack on a checkpoint in remote Badmanai area of Baizai tehsil in Mohmand Agency on Wednesday.

Tribal sources said that a group of militants attacked the newly established Badmanai checkpoint with automatic weapons in the wee hours of Wednesday. The security forces instantly retaliated and killed two militants and injured four others during the clash.

This was the third such attack on the Badmanai outpost since its establishment in the borderlands some six days ago. Meanwhile, the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Mohmand chapter claimed responsibility for the attacks on security forces in Mattak area and blowing up a girls school in Arund area in Shabqadar.

Talking to media by phone, the spokesman for Mohmand-based militants Ikramullah Mohmand also claimed that their fighters had kidnapped two security personnel along with their vehicle.On the other hand, chief of Manzari Cheena and prominent tribal elder Malik Sultan has formed 100-member peace committee to control the growing militancy in the remote Baizai subdivision.

Speaking at a press conference, the Baizai Peace Committee chief said that militancy has ruined their people and area as thousands had been displaced while scores were killed or maimed.

“Today the tribesmen are not safe and secure. They are living in constant fear and scare,” he said, adding that educational institutions, business centres and bazaars were closed for quite a long time. Malik Sultan said that the peace body would strive to bring peace to the area, restore business activities and provide a peaceful environment to the locals to lead a routine life.