NWFP Home Secretary, Badshah Gul Wazir has said that the militants supporting rebellios Maulana Fazalullah in restive Swat valley have killed 15 persons including six security personnel.
Talking to APP here on Saturday, Home Secretary said the security forces recovered bodies of 15 persons on Saturday from different localities near Matta, a stronghold of Maulana Fazalullah.
These persons, he added, might have been killed on Friday, but their bodies were recovered today. Among the six killed security officials, three are FC personnel and three policemen, said the Home Secretary.
The bodies of some of the deceased were dragged by the miscreants in Shakardara bazaar, he added.
Meanwhile, he said, situation in Swat on Saturday was quite normal as no incident of exchange of fire was reported in the valley.
He said one incident of firing was reported last night when militants attacked a check post in Char Bagh area.
He said a group of militants equipped with heavy weapons attacked the check post established in the area for maintenance of peace. The post was manned by 20 FC personnel and 10 policemen, who effectively retaliated fire for three hours as a result of which attacking militants retreated and later escaped from the scene.
He said situation in Matta, Char Bagh and Sambat was tense where the security forces faced resistance.
The militants, have taken positions on hilltops in Sambat, Mariam and Khawazakhela areas.
He reiterated that forces have been deployed in the area with the objective of restoring writ of the government in peaceful manner. Government, he added, does not want confrontation but to restore peace in the area amicably by showing maximum restraint.
Forces deployed in the area, he continued, were directed to show maximum restraint and fully avoid collateral damage in case of any encounter with the militants.