GHALANAI/KOHAT, Nov 14: Surveillance of the border was increased on Monday after Pakistani security forces killed three militants and injured four who intruded into Mohmand Agency from Afghanistan overnight, officials said.

They said that personnel of Khasadar Force and Frontier Corps, manning a checkpost in the Olay area, challenged the militants when they were entering Baizai tehsil at about 8:15pm.

According to the officials the militants had entered Olay from Nazarkhel area across the border and were proceeding towards Atam Kallay. The security forces targeted them with heavy weapons and started shelling from the nearby posts to force them to surrender, but they escaped in the dark.

“At least three militants were killed and four to five were injured in the shelling by security forces,” officials said.

They said that security forces accompanied by members of Atmarkhel Peace Committee visited the area in the morning and found stains of blood there. Security forces also recovered one hand grenade, two magazines and other things from the spot.

Meanwhile, political tehsildars Khalid Khan and Shamsul Islam inspected deployment of Levies and Khasadar personnel at checkposts, established in different areas of Haleemzai and Ekkaghund tehsils of the tribal region.

Also, one person was killed and eight others, including six women, were injured when militants fired mortar shells at Jawaki area of Frontier Region of Kohat on Monday.

Official sources said that militants fired several mortar shells from the Tor Chappar mountain of Darra Adamkhel at the residential area of Jawaki. The mortar shells hit three houses in the area, they added.

They said that a man identified as Muneer was killed in the incident. The injured were identified as Asma Bibi, Fatima Bibi, Nausheen Bibi, Kiran Bibi, Sumera Bibi, Sakina, Aftab and Shafaat. They were shifted to combined military hospital in Kohat for treatment. It is important to mention here that eight alleged militants were arrested on Sunday during a raid on an Afghan refugees camp, situated near the border between Kohat district and Shindhad tribal area.

Sources said that the arrested terrorists were involved in attacks on the vehicles of tribesmen, who were fleeing the area.

The mortar attack on the residential area coincided with the daylong visit of Inspector General of Police Akbar Khan Hoti to Kohat. The IGP urged people to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in curbing militancy in the region.

The residents of Jawaki area have been migrating to safer places for the last few months owing to rocket and mortar attacks on their houses by militants.

In Swat, the local peace jirga has demanded arrest of reuniting terrorists, who had fled the district after a military operation, to bring them to justice. The demand was made by chief of Nekpekhel Peace Committee Saifullah Khan during a press conference in Mingora on Monday.

Flanked by Feroz Shah, Ibrahim Dewlai, Inamur Rehman and Zaheen Khan, he said that suspected terrorists released from prisons might be involved in attacks on volunteers of peace committee. Terrorists would not be allowed to disturb peace of Swat, he added.

Mr Khan termed attack on Karimul Hadi, general secretary of the committee, a cowardice act. “Such acts of terrorists will never plunge the high morale of the elders of the committee,” he said. He said that peace in Swat was restored after great sacrifices of lives and properties. “We will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with army for maintenance of peace and elimination of last terrorist,” he added.

Mr Khan said that terrorists were trying to regroup in Swat but people would foil their evil designs. He demanded of the government and security forces to arrest all terrorists, either hiding in Pakistan or in other countries, to bring them to justice.—Correspondents/APP