Gunship attacks in Bara kill 9 militants; 5 hideouts destroyed
26 October, 2012
LANDIKOTAL: Gunship helicopters have bombed hideouts of militants in Aka Khel area of Bara tehsil, killing nine suspected militants and destroying five hideouts, local media persons have reported. The security forces have expedited their offensive against the militants in Aka Khel and other areas of Bara, Khyber Agency, in the last few days. Hundreds of suspects have reportedly been arrested and shifted to Shakas Jamrud and other forts in the ongoing military offensive in Bara to contain the militants' activities. The security forces officials have assured that those found innocent after thorough investigations would be set free. Skirmishes have been continuing between the security forces and the militants in Bara for the last three years. A constant curfew has been in effect in the area, which is situated adjacent to the settled district of Peshawar. More than fifty thousand families have left their houses in Bara due to the disorder and uncertain situation in the area. Most of the displaced people have been accommodated by the government in the Jalozai camp, whereas dozens of families have hired houses in various areas of Peshawar and some have been living with their relatives. Most of the educational institutions in the area have been destroyed by the militants. The people who stayed back in Bara have been forced to vacate their houses and flee the area due to the mortar-shelling. The political leadership of Bara has repeatedly urged the government and the security forces to wind up the military operation, reopen the markets and let the displaced people return to their houses, but their demands have not been fulfilled. The top administrator of Khyber Agency, Motahir Zib Khan, has said that the time is not ripe for the forces to leave the area as the insurgency is still in place there, which will be completely eliminated. Hundreds of innocent people, including children, women and old people, have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict in Bara, mostly due to the blind shelling of mortars and the IED explosions on roadsides. End.
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