MINGORA: Fifteen militants were killed and several others sustained injuries in the ongoing military operation in the restive Swat Valley on Tuesday.

Gunship helicopters shelled alleged hideouts of militants in Akhund and Zora Kellay in Kabal Tehsil, leaving seven militants dead and several others, including civilians, injured. A fierce gunbattle between the security forces and the militants at Ningolai checkpoint left a security man dead, while one civilian sustained injuries during the shoot-out.

However, the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman, Muslim Khan, claimed to have killed five security personnel in the shoot-out. The militants also opened fire on the security forces’ checkpoint in Tootano Bandai but no loss of life was reported in the incident.

Separately, the security forces demolished two houses and as many shops in Kanju area of Kabal Tehsil and arrested 27 suspected militants during a search operation. The TTP spokesman said the deadline for the release of three policemen detained by the Taliban ended on Tuesday. However, the date had been extended for talks for swapping prisoners, as the government had also detained 20 militants. It was reported that in the Khwazakhela Tehsil, a mortar shell fired from an undisclosed location landed at the house of a person Khalid, killing his wife and injuring his son.

APP adds: Eight miscreants were killed in a shoot-out with the security forces in Gashkor area of Khwazakhela Tehsil. According to the ISPR, the miscreants were killed in an abortive attempt to ambush a convoy of the security forces.