PESHAWAR: At least seven FC personnel were martyred and 13 were injured during a search and strike operation against militants in the Maidan, Sarbanda area of Lower Dir.
Official sources said that there is also information that an FC personnel member was missing during a fierce clash with militants in the mountainous area under the limits of Lal Qila police station. The militants formed a trench and opened fire on the security convoy.
The injured were first shifted to Lal Qila Hospital and later to District Headquarters Hospital Timergara. According to police officials, a heavy contingent of police, elite force, and Dir Scouts remained present in the area, and the operation was ongoing.
Security forces claimed that heavy losses had been inflicted on the militants; however, no details were immediately provided in this regard. The Lal Qila (Red Fort) was once the stronghold of the banned Tehreek-e-Nifaz Shariat Mohammadi, led by Maulana Sufi Muhammad. His son-in-law, Mullah Fazlullah, later became the head of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and fled to Afghanistan during a military operation in Malakand in 2009, where he was later killed in an airstrike.
In addition, militants attacked the Lajbok police post late at night. According to police sources, the exchange of fire continued for several hours, after which the officers repelled the attack. No casualties were reported.
In another development, the Lower Dir district administration on Thursday imposed Section 144 and banned the flying of drones, quadcopters and balloons across the district. Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Arif Khan directed assistant commissioners and police officials to strictly implement the law and warned that legal action would be taken against violators.
Meanwhile, in South Waziristan, the elders of the Toji Khel tribe decided in a jirga on September 9 that they would not allow their land to be used by terrorists, warning the militants to either leave the area or be prepared for exile.
The tribal elders also announced that anyone found providing food, shelter, or any kind of assistance to the terrorists would be severely punished, including the demolition of their house and a fine of Rs. 2 million.
Read also: Five Indian-sponsored militants killed in failed attack on FC HQ in Bannu
