By IANS,
Islamabad : Nine members of Lashkar (a tribal volunteer force) and three militants were killed in a clash in northwest Pakistan, a media report said Sunday.
“A group of armed militants attacked members of the Qaumi Lashkar in Pamp Pokha area of Ambar tehsil late on Friday night when they were returning to their base,” official sources said.
Lashkar sources said the militants captured three tribesmen and that the militants might have fled to Bajaur. Five militants were injured in the fighting.
Lashkar volunteers demolished dozens of houses of militants and captured several suspects in Shati Maina, Adam Kor and Omarkhel areas of Ambar tehsil Saturday. They also claimed to gain control of a number of strategic villages and destroy several militant hideouts.
The Qaumi Lashkar, led by Chandi Khan and Sadat Khan, has over 1,500 volunteers and the number was rising, sources said.
After the Taliban attack, a Jirga (a tribal assembly of elders which takes decisions by consensus) of 200 elders and volunteers held a meeting and urged the government to set up security check posts in some tribal areas.
The government announced a compensation of Rs.100,000 for families of each of the Lashkar fighters killed in the clash. The government political agent, Amjad Ali Khan claimed that security forces had arrested Taliban commander Fazal Hadi and 36 suspects. He also said that Alingar area had been cleared of militants.
Khan said about 2,000 militants were still in Mohmand. He added that about 600 militants have surrendered to the political administration and 300 have been killed during operations in different areas of the region.