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    Security forces secure key Mingora intersections

Security forces have entered Peochar village after surrounding the Peochar Valley: ISPR.—Reuters/File.

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ISLAMABAD: Operation Rahe Rast made headway on Sunday, with security forces securing control of important areas including key cross-roads in the largest city of Swat and capturing Kamber town known as the gateway to Mingora, the military said.

‘Wattakai Chowk, Nawakilli Chowk, Nishat Chowk, Sirafe Chowk, Gulshan Chowk, Green Chowk, Haji Baba Chowk and Sohrab Chowk in Mingora have been secured as the security forces continue to make advance in Mingora city,’ military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told Dawn.

Five terrorists were killed in various areas of Mingora city while 14 miscreants have been arrested by the security forces. He said arms and ammunitions have been recovered in Mingora city.

During their movement, security forces encountered 12 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), four of which were defused. He said intense fighting was going on in Mingora city and the terrorists were on the run.

He said Malakand-Kanju road that was blocked by the terrorists had now been opened and a convoy of security forces moved from Malakand to Kanju.

The military spokesman said 10 militants were killed in various areas of Swat during exchange of fire with security forces, while 14 had been arrested. Three security forces personnel laid down their lives and six were injured.

He said the security forces have entered Peochar village after surrounding the Peochar Valley. During a search and cordon operation, a huge cache of arms was recovered from miscreants’ hideouts along with an extensive factory used to make IED bombs. He said the ammunition producing facility was under the control of security forces now.
 
General Athar Abbas said security forces launched a swift operation in Malam Jabba on receiving information about presence of miscreants there. During clashes five miscreant-terrorists were killed. Their bodies were lying alongside the road, he said.

He said about fifteen truck loads of relief items despatched by Armed Forces at Khawazakhela have reached Madian, Bahrain and Kalam. The relief goods contain eatables for the stranded people of the area. Meanwhile Special Support Group has also despatched relief goods (eatables / medicines) to the stranded people of Madian, Kalam and surrounding areas.
 
50 tons of rations were distributed by Army among the internally displaced persons (IDPs) on Sunday. So far Army has donated 510 tons of rations out of its daily quota. Donated items included Atta, Daal, Sugar and Ghee. The ration is daily consumed by over 80,000 Internally Displaced Persons. 
 
Five trucks load of rations and non food items were distributed among 26383 off camp IDPs of Garhi Kapoora, six Union Councils of Tehsil Takhtaband. Army troops also coordinated the provision of relief goods to the Orphans of Swat residing in an orphanage at Peshawar.

DAWN:Sunday, 24 May, 2009