PESHAWAR, Oct 26: Gunmen shot dead two members of an anti-Taliban peace committee in Swat valley, where militants tried to murder schoolgirl activist Malala Yousufzai, police said on Friday.

The shooting will heighten fears of a campaign of targeted killings in Swat, as in the last four months, two businessmen and outspoken anti-Taliban campaigners have been shot dead and two others wounded.

The latest incident took place in the Charbagh area, a former militant stronghold some 10km north of Mingora, where Taliban shot 15-year-old Malala in the head for promoting the right of girls to go to school.

Police said gunmen opened fire on Tajim Gul late on Thursday, in front of a mosque while Sardar Mohammad was gunned down in his home.

“In both incidents the attackers managed to flee. We have registered a case against the unknown attackers,” Liaqat Ali, an official in Charbagh police station, said.

Daidar Ghani, another police official, confirmed the incident. Sardar Mohammad’s five-year-old son was injured in the shooting Residents said both victims were members of local peace committee and they blamed Taliban for the killing.

All four victims before Malala were senior members of an anti-militancy group.—AFP