Tuesday, June 16, 2009

DTN News: Pakistan ~ Janikhel Area Of FR Bannu Cleared

DTN News: Pakistan ~ Janikhel Area Of FR Bannu Cleared *Sources: Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) BANNU, Pakistan - June 16, 2009: Security forces cleared FR Bannu’s Janikhel tehsil, set up checkpoints and started action against the Gorbaz tribe on the Miramshah Road on Monday morning. Militants had used the area to cross into Waziristan after kidnapping students of the Razmak Cadet College early this month. Security forces set up checkpoints on Miramshah Road to stop militants from using the area to cross into Waziristan. - AP/File photo The forces, it is learnt, are planning to take over the Rocha fort from where militants had once kidnapped 22 FC personnel. District Coordination Officer Kamran Zeb and police chief Iqbal Marwat visited the Frontier Region to assess the security situation in Janikhel. Security personnel have not yet moved into the Hindikhel tehsil and Bakakhel area. Militants fired six rockets on a police station and an airport on Monday morning. Five rockets landed in a field and one damaged a seminary in Kotka Khan Zaman in Norar area, injuring a youth. At least seven militants were injured in an exchange of fire with security personnel. During a curfew break, police arrested 19 people under the FCR and took them to the Bannu central jail. Upper Dir Villagers killed four militants and destroyed three houses owned by them in Shatkas area of Doog Darra. They also attacked militant positions in Ghazigay village. The villagers have killed at least 19 militants over the past 10 days. The militants have been pushed towards Kandao which is believed to be their last bastion in the area. Security forces have deployed artillery, but people of Doog Darra have urged district officials to stop possible shelling of their area. Lower Dir Two security men were killed and four others injured in a clash which followed an attack by militants on troops near Galgot village in Maidan. The Dir media centre of the armed forces claimed that nine militants had been killed in the clash but said their bodies had been taken away. A military spokesman in Timergara said one security man had been killed and five others injured. After the clash, security forces intensified shelling from Timergara and pounded militants’ hideouts in Galgot, Chinargay and surrounding villages. Mohmand Agency Three militants were killed and three security personnel injured in a clash in Mattai area. Troops continued the hunt of militants in Ghanam Shah, Chamarakabd, Suran Darra, Sheikh Baba and Mattai. The road up to Ghanam Shah has been cleared and forces have advanced 1km from Dag to Mulla Kalley. Three security men were injured when militants fired shells in Mattai and the three militants were killed when troops fired back. The forces seized five rockets, 250 mortar shells, 200 rounds and explosive devices from a house in Ghanam Shah. At least 22 houses of suspected militants were destroyed. An official said in Islamabad that five terrorists were killed and six others injured and three houses were destroyed when a lashkar launched a counter-attack in Dir. In Bannu, police destroyed a car believed to be on a suicide mission when it did not stop for checking in Zandi Janikhel village between Bakakhel and Janikhel. The suicide bomber driving the car was killed. Security Forces consolidated their positions at Janikhel Fort and Sara Bangal.

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