By NNN-PTI,
Islamabad : More than 45 people, including 16 militants, have died in violence and security operations in the Swat valley in northwestern Pakistan even as a federal minister from the region resigned on Sunday to protest the government’s failure to control militancy.
At least 16 militants were killed and many others injured in gun battles with security forces at three places in Swat since yesterday, a statement from the military said.
Army troops backed by artillery and gunship helicopters began a fresh campaign against local Taliban militants in Swat last week.
The security forces continued their clearance operation in Charbagh sub-district and engaged suspected militant hideouts. The troops have consolidated their hold over Charbagh, which was considered a “stronghold of the hardened militants”, said the statement.
In an incident in the Aligrama area, a security forces personnel was killed and two others were wounded when militants attacked a patrol. Five suspected militants were also arrested during a search operation in the same area.
The rest of the persons killed in violence in Swat were all civilians and police personnel. A police constable was shot dead by militants after being abducted from his home in Rahimabad last night.
Twenty-seven bodies were found in Kabal and Charbagh sub-districts, TV channels reported.
Meanwhile, federal Narcotics Control Minister Khawaja Mohammad Khan Hoti resigned today to protest the government’s failure to tackle militancy in the North West Frontier Province and adjoining tribal areas through dialogue.