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| Swatis finally raise Lashkar to root out Taliban |
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Saturday, October 11, 2008
By Musa Khankhel & Delawar Jan
MINGORA/PESHAWAR: In an major move, people of the militant-infested Matta Tehsil in the troubled Swat Valley on Friday finally raised an armed Lashkar of 10,000 men to fight the emboldened Taliban militants. On the other hand, the security forces killed six terrorists in fresh aerial attacks on Taliban looting the PTDC motel in Malam Jabba.
The Swat Media Centre said that the security forces were tipped off that more than 100 militants were looting the Pakistan Tourism Department Corporation (PTDC) motel in Malam Jabba on which the forces took an immediate action and sent gunship helicopters to hit them. A military official said that six militants were killed in shelling by choppers while more than 10 were injured who were shifted from the area in two vehicles.
It merits a mention here that the PTDC motel, which was also the lone skiing resort in Pakistan, has been damaged twice and looted by the Maulana Fazlullah-led militants.The official said that the militants were looting the belongings of the PTDC after declaring them 'Mal-e-Ghanimat' when the helicopter shelled them. "The information we gathered confirmed the death of six militants besides injuries to more than 10," he said.The forces also shelled the suspected positions of the insurgents in Barthana and other areas of Matta but there was no word on casualties and losses.
In a major and unprecedented development in Matta, the stronghold of the Taliban, the Gujjar community of 20 villages formed an armed Lashkar of 10,000 men after holding a Jirga in which, according to local sources, 16,000 people participated. The Lashkar named Pir Samiullah, who clashed with the Taliban in the Mandal Dag area a month back killing several terrorists, its commander and vowed to fight the Taliban tooth and nail. They also resolved to sacrifice their lives for bringing peace to their area.
In clashes with the Gujjar community over their attempts to pick up a religious figure, Pir Samiullah, the Taliban after facing stiff resistance and suffering losses established a checkpost and captured around 25 villagers for defending the Pir.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
