| GEO Pakistan | | Forces take control of militants’ stronghold after 7 years | Updated at: 0730 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010
 KHAR: Security forces on Sunday took control of the Sewai area and hoisted the national flag in the erstwhile stronghold of the militants in Bajaur’s Mamond subdivision after seven years, official sources said.
Also, 20 militants and two tribesmen were killed while two soldiers sustained injuries in the fighting. The sources also claimed that several militants’ hideouts and bunkers were destroyed in the clashes, artillery shelling and air raids in various areas of the agency.
The sources said security forces, backed by tanks, armoured personnel carriers (APCs), gunship helicopters and fighter jets, took control of the Sewai area after a brief but fierce clash with the militants early in the day.
During the operation, gunship helicopters and fighter planes also targeted and strafed the suspected hideouts in Sewai, the Taliban’s nerve centre, where they had established a parallel judicial system.
The sources said 20 militants were killed and two soldiers were injured when gunship helicopters and fighter planes bombed Jani Shah and Damadola areas in Mamond. Two tribesmen were also killed after an artillery shell reportedly fired by security forces struck a house in Mamond Tehsil. However, the identity of the slain civilians could not be ascertained. |  |
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