By KUNA,
Islamabad : At least two civilians were killed and seven others were wounded in fierce clashes between security forces and militants in a northern Pakistani district.
Clashes erupted between militants and security forces Tuesday morning in Kabal district of Sawat valley, said Sawat Media Center Incharge, Major Faroque, while talking to newsmen. He said the two sides used heavy weapons but could not confirm any casualty. However, security sources told KUNA that a mortar shell hit a house that killed two persons and wounded seven others.
Major Faroque said further that militants attacked a police station and took as hostages several policemen including Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel. However, he did not give the exact figure of kidnapped personnel.
According to sources, more than two dozen policemen, FC personnel and government officials have been kidnapped by the militants and they have demanded release of their accomplices in exchange as well as complete withdrawal of security forces from their area. Meanwhile, unknown gunmen late on Monday shot and killed three army intelligence officers in the Sawat valley. A spokesman for the militants talking to local newsmen said that killing was in to protest the physical torture of militants in government custody.