| GEO Pakistan | | 55 militants dead in last 24 hours: ISPR | Updated at: 1719 PST, Friday, May 15, 2009
 ISLAMABAD: Pakistani troops have killed 55 militants in various parts of the northwestern Swat valley during the last 24 hours, Ineter Services Public Relations said.
Three security men were also martyred.
"Fifty-five miscreants have been killed in various areas of Swat during the last 24 hours while three security forces personnel embraced shahdat (martyrdom) and 11 others were injured," it said in a statement.
"We have confirmed reports that these Taliban terrorists after shaving off their beards and cutting their hair are fleeing from the area," it said.
Security forces also arrested an important Taliban commander, Dawa Noor, it added.
It said that Noor was involved in "terrorist activities" in the Sultan was and Daggar areas of Buner district and had been inciting residents against security forces.
Noor also played a "crucial role" in facilitating the takeover of Buner district by Taliban last month.
On Thursday artillery batteries shelled suspected hideouts in Swat and the neighbouring district of Lower Dir, with the military claiming to have killed around 124 militants. Nine soldiers were also killed, it said.
More than 940 Taliban militants and 45 soldiers have been killed so far in the ongoing military operation launched since April 26. There is no independent confirmation of the figures and no word on civilian casualties. |  |
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