Militant killed in Swabi encounter identified
SWABI: One of the four militants, killed in an encounter on Saturday, was identified while identity of the remaining three was expected to be ascertained soon, sources said.
Sources told Dawn that police were put on red alert after the encounter took place in the district.
The four militants, who took refuge in a primary school for boys in Shagolay village, were killed by police in a predawn encounter on Saturday.
Soon after the incident, their bodies were shifted to Kalu Khan police station and later to civil hospital for identification.
Officials said that one of the killed militants was identified as Asad Ali, son of Gul Baz, a resident of Ismaila village in the district. Ismaila is situated at a distance of six kilometres from the venue of the encounter.
“We handed over the body of the deceased to his brother Gohar Ali after his identification was proved by both police and his family members,” said an official.
Sources said that identity of the remaining three militants was not ascertained but the process was underway.
“The process is underway and we expect their families to come forward soon,” said a police official.
Sources said that after the identification of Asad most of the officials were of the view that the remaining three militants also belonged to Razaar tehsil. But it was not confirmed, they added.
“Our colleagues are of the view that the three other killed militants can also be residents of the district,” said a head constable.
The officials said situation was more disturbed in Razaar tehsil as compared to other parts of the district.
During the last two months, all major incidents of terrorism occurred there, they added. Sources said that after killing of the four militants, police remained at red alerted to deal with any eventuality.
“The prevailing scenario in the district is in our mind and we have taken unusual security steps,” said an official.