MINGORA, Jan 22: Eleven militants were killed and nine others injured in security operations in Qamber, Drushkhela and Matta areas of the violence-plagued Swat valley.

According to a press release issued by the Swat Media Centre on Thursday, helicopter gunships pounded militants’ hideouts in Qamber, killing four militants who were identified as Abu Hamza, Ismail, Abdul Rauf and Qari Ghaffar. Six militants were injured.

In a ground operation in Koza Drushkhela, the press release said, security forces killed seven militants and injured three.

Troops took into possession the bodies of two militants, the release said.

A soldier was injured during the operation.

Local people said eight labourers were injured when troops shelled a marble factory in Qamber.The injured were admitted to the DHQ hospital in Saidu Sharif and three of them were referred to Peshawar.

A girls’ primary school and the building of a silk factory were blown up by suspected militants in Qamber.

Swat Taliban publicly flogged three people accused of theft in Dadara area of Kabal.

They were sentenced to 39 lashes by a so-called Taliban court.

Meanwhile, a dumper of a construction company owned by former federal minister and provincial chief of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) hit a bomb on the Khwazakhela-Mingora road. Its driver and a worker were killed.

Amjed Ali, a teacher of Matta school, and a militant were killed when they clashed after an argument near the College Chowk.

The bodies of a prayer leader, Khanzada, and his associate Aqeel Khan with their throats slit were found in Teriat area of Madyan tehsil.

Two people injured when unidentified people opened fire on them in Kanu.